Former prime minister Manasseh Sogavare has re-joined the Solomon Islands government as deputy, allowing Jeremiah Manele's coalition to stagger on - for now.
Mr Manele may have again found a path through the shifting sands of Solomon Islands politics to stay in office, with a crunch parliamentary vote ahead to determine its future.
A walkout of 12 cabinet ministers earlier this week meant Mr Manele was confronted with the collapse of his coalition.
His government appears to be backed by just 22 MPs in the 50-seat parliament, with opposition forces filing a no-confidence motion to test its support.
The situation is fluid, with police calling for calm given the instability.
Mr Manele has appointed several new ministers - Mr Sogavare included - and claimed to have dismissed a constitutional crisis.
"It is during challenging times like these that our country needs a fully functioning government more than ever, not only to ensure stability, but to continue delivering essential services to our people," Mr Manele said.
"It is therefore unfortunate that, at a time when our focus should be on protecting our people and economy from external shocks, some leaders are engaged in political manoeuvring."
Mr Sogavare, 71, has been an ever-present in Solomon Islands politics for three decades, with four stints as prime minister, including prior to the 2024 election.
Those elections produced a fractured parliament with several parties jostling for power, with Mr Manele emerging from negotiations as prime minister, with Mr Sogavare as deputy and finance minister.
In April 2025, Mr Sogavare defected to the opposition, backing a failed no-confidence motion as Mr Manele cobbled together a fresh coalition.
He is attempting to repeat the act this week - though his parliamentary majority is in doubt.
The newly assembled opposition staged a photo shoot in Honiara with 27 MPs, all male, in it - a boast that they now control the numbers in parliament.
According to local outlet In Depth Solomons, the grouping has signed a coalition deal and filed a motion of no confidence in Mr Manele's leadership.
When that will reach parliament is unclear. The opposition want it to happen next week, while Mr Manele has told journalists parliament was unlikely to resume until May.
In a statement, the prime minister called for patience and calm.
"There is no cause for alarm. Constitutional processes are being respected and will guide us through this period," Mr Manele said.
"The floor of parliament is the only place where political numbers are formally determined. Speculation elsewhere does not change the government's current mandate to lead."
