PNG PRESSURE Political turmoil, student unrest and strikes cripple economy.
PRIME MINISTER Peter O’Neill has convincingly defeated the vote of no confidence in him to remain in office despite uncertainties created by nationwide protests and strikes by pilots, transport workers, and doctors. The opposition moved a motion of no-confidence in his leadership but only managed to secure 21 votes – well short of the 56 required.
Parliamentarians debated for around 90 minutes in a special court-ordered sitting, broadcast throughout PNG. After more than two years of political crisis over a long-running corruption investigation culminated in police shooting at students at a protest last month, the parliament sat on June 22 to determine the future of Peter O’Neill.
The opposition leader, Don Polye, had been nominated as an alternative leader but both he and O’Neill were prevented from speaking after the parliamentary debate was shut down. The Supreme Court had ordered the parliament to be recalled to vote on the opposition’s motion, and huge crowds of Papua New Guineans queued on that Friday morning to attend. Police had been placed on high alert.
This was the opposition’s fourth attempt to hold a vote of no-confidence in Mr O’Neill but in the end it couldn’t convince enough governments MPs to switch sides. The Prime Minister has been under pressure since early 2014 when a warrant was issued for his arrest.
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