In most elections, no one party has won an absolute majority of seats and so usually parties must work with each other to form coalition governments. The one exception is the 1989 election, when the People's Alliance Party (PAP) led by Solomon Mamaloni did win an absolute majority. However, in late 1990, Mamaloni broke away from the PAP and continued ruling in a coalition government until the 1993 election.
Many parties are established immediately prior to an election and most are very short-lived. Some will achieve no parliamentary representation and dissolve within a year. Others will achieve parliamentary representation but, having served their purpose, are then discarded.
The most enduring political parties in the Solomon Islands are the PAP and the Solomon Islands United Party, founded in 1979 and 1980, respectively. The PAP has led three governments and been in coalition in at least three more. The United Party led two governments in the 1980s however its representation has waned in recent years and after the 2006, it no longer had any parliamentary representatives.
National Party (Nasnol Pati, c.1997–, founded by Francis Billy Hilly)
People's Alliance Party (PAP, 1979–, founded by Solomon Mamaloni and David Kausimae through the merger of Mamaloni's People's Progress Party and Kausimae's Rural Alliance Party)
People's Federation Party (founded by former foreign affairs officer Rudolf Henry Dorah; party Chair is Clay Forau Soalaoi, outgoing MP for Temotu Vatud)
Autonomous Solomon Islanders Party (ASIP, co-founded by former politicians Jackson Sunaone and Denis Lulei)
Rural and Urban Political Party (RUPP) (co-founded by outgoing Lands Minister Samuel Manetoali (President) and outgoing MP for South Vella La Vella, Trevor Olavae)
Christian Leadership and Fellowship Group (1993–97, founded by Rev Michael Maeliau)
Solomon Islands National Unity and Reconciliation Party (SINURP, 1994–97, founded by Solomon Mamaloni whilst he was Prime Minister, after he broke away from the PAP)
National Action Party of Solomon Islands (NAPSI, 1993–97, founded by Francis Saemala)
