The election of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker is likely to be the first order of business when the new Solomon Islands parliament sits for the first time today.
The former Speaker, Sir Allan Kemakeza, who resigned before unsucessfully contesting the recent elections, is in the running to be re-elected.
And former MP James Tora who was ousted from his Ulawa Ugi seat is likely to be the opposing candidate.
Koroi Hawkins has more:
"The most urgent business before the 50 parliamentarians this week is the need to pass a resolution for the continuation of government spending until a new budget is ready. Meanwhile, two important portfolios remain unfilled. Finance and Police are still to be assigned by the Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. It's understood that a former Prime Minister, Snyder Rini, and Mathew Wale are vying for the post. Mr Wale is believed to have demurred from taking the deputy prime minister's role in the hope he would get the post. Mr Rini however is keen to get his hands on Finance for a fifth time. It is possible that Mr Sogavare may temporarily assume the finance post if an agreement cannot be reached."
The National Parliament of Solomon Islands overlooking Honiara City Photo: RNZ Koroi Hawkins
