HONIARA, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Matthew Wale was sworn in as the Solomon Islands' new prime minister on Friday after he was elected by members of parliament.

The ceremony took place in the afternoon at the Government House in the presence of Governor General of the Solomon Islands David Tiva Kapu.

With former Deputy Prime Minister Manasseh Maelanga withdrawing from the race just before the session began, opposition leader Wale won a 26-to-22 vote in the 50-seat parliament to defeat former Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka on Friday morning.

Wale has taken over the office from Jeremiah Manele, who was removed from office on May 7 after the parliament passed a motion of no-confidence.

"We take the government at a difficult time, given what is happening throughout the world," said Wale outside the parliament after Kapu announced the election result, noting that the government will exercise discipline and prudent management to navigate through these challenging times.

"Change is coming. These changes are necessary and may be painful. I ask that you join with your government in putting your hand to the plow. Let us all unite and count the cost of effecting the changes that are necessary to position our country to flourish," he said.

Born in 1968, Wale was elected as a Member of Parliament in a by-election in 2008. He lost the parliamentary vote for prime minister and became the Leader of the Opposition following the 2019 election. He was again nominated as a candidate for prime minister in the 2024 election but lost to Manele. ■