Namah, Abel and Pala join Temu unite with opposition to topple Somare

ABC REPORTS

Sir Morauta and Sir Puka at March Girls Resort, Ready to take on Somare

Papua New Guinea's government is facing another threat to its survival, this time from the deputy prime minister, who has joined forces with opposition MPs.

PNG prime minister Sir Michael Somare was expected to face a challenge for the leadership of his party from transport minister Don Polye at a meeting today but another challenger has arisen.

While the meeting was underway, his deputy prime minister Puka Temu was holding discussions with opposition MPs at a resort outside Port Moresby.

Several other government ministers were there with him.

Together they have resolved to move a motion of no confidence against Sir Michael when parliament resumes tomorrow.

If that happens, a vote can take place in a week's time.
The new group say they have the numbers to win a vote and form a new government.

Update 2
***************************
Papua New Guinea’s government has been split by the defection of four key ministers to the opposition.

The deputy prime minister, Sir Puka Temu, along with Forest Minister Beldan Namah, Culture Minister Charles Abel and Attorney-General Ano Pala, have publicly announced their move away from the government.

The move sets the stage for Sir Puka to topple current leader Sir Michael Somare.

At a news conference yesterday, Sir Puka said he was leaving because he believed it was the right thing to do.

He also added a vote of no confidence in the government would be moved when parliament sits today.

Transport Minister Don Polye had been expected to launch a leadership challenge at a meeting of the ruling National Alliance Party yesterday.

But Sir Puka’s move to the opposition has thrown the political landscape into further uncertainty.

Comments

  1. AnonymousJuly 20, 2010 at 9:18 AM

    I hear from the grape wine that the old man opted for his son to succeed him as the new leader of NA yesterday and the alternative Prime minister comes todays vote. This has now caused some NA members like Nama, Puka,Don Poyle, Abal and others to break alliances and are calling on the Opposition to join them. Its looks set that either William Duma (9 members ) or Puka or Don Poyle (22 in aggregate) will contest the top job from within this group. They just need 25 from the opposition ranks. It looks like the middle group (Duma, Poyle and Puka) will be calling the shot for a new government. Lets see what transpires.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJuly 20, 2010 at 9:32 AM

    Don Polye, time has come for you to become power-broker for a new government; not for you to vie for PM; give it to Sir Puka Temu.
    The best option available to Mr Polye now is to offer the prime minister’s seat to Sir Puka Temu, Deputy Prime Minister to William Duma, the Finance to Sir Mekere Morauta, Treasury to Bart Philemon, IPBC & State Enterprises to Ken Fairweather, National Planning to Michael Ogio, Speaker to Jeffery Nape, Attorney General and Justice to Luther Wenge, Agriculture to Andrew Kumbakor, retain Works and Civil Aviation, leave Education and Hela with James Marape, give Jiwaka and Housing to Jamie Graham, Forests to Mal Smith Kela, and both Police and Defence with Dr Allan Marat.
    Allocation of other non-economic ministries should be done at your own discretion in line with demands from different parties in the new coalition. This line up would be trusted by PNG people, very credible, and you bet it will go past 2012 easily.
    You need the coastal MPs to change this government.
    The Highlands MPs are fluid, money-faced, and chronically jealous as according to Paias Wingti’s strategy of government formation.
    Don Polye cannot be the choice for PM now (maybe after 2012) because the balance of power in this new coalition would tilt towards coastal MPs.
    Only when delivering a PM from the coast, will Mr Polye wield significant power and influence in the running of the new government.
    Opportunities come once, so Polye must not back down because Peter O’Neil and Anderson Agiru are supporting Arthur Somare – both have always been cowards in government formation for some time now. Over to you, Polye-Puka-Duma team.

    ReplyDelete

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