Ulufa alu narrowly survived a vote of no-confidence in a special legislative session on September 18. The opposition was weakened by defection from within its ranks. On October 8, former prime minister Solomon Mamaloni was sworn in as leader of the opposition to replace the ailing Job Duddley Tausinga. Political Rights and Civil Liberties Citizens of the Solomon Islands can change their government democratically. Executive power is vested in a prime minister and cabinet, and the British monarchy is represented by a governor-general.
Traditional chiefs wield formal authority in local government.
Party affiliations are weak and based largely on personal loyalties. The country s three private newspapers vigorously criticize government policies, but have limited circulation outside the towns. The government appointed a prominent local journalist to head the SIBC in 1998. In mid-1998, an Australian television channel began broadcasting to the Solomon Islands. Curbs on the media were imposed during the state of emergency in Guadacanal in 1999, and the government was slow in lifting them even after ending the emergency.