Somare not contesting PNG election

Papua New Guinea's former prime minister Sir Michael Somare is not standing for re-election at the June poll.

However, the 76-year-old will campaign on behalf of his National Alliance (NA) party.

"He is not contesting the election," his spokeswoman and daughter Betha Somare told AAP on Monday.

"He is just taking his party to the election. He is going to campaign for his people.

"He is going to support his candidates throughout the country."

On Saturday AAP reported Ms Somare as saying Sir Michael would contest the election for the East Sepik electorate, and would stand down mid-term.

Ms Somare said she misheard AAP's query during an NA campaign fundraiser to clarify Sir Michael's reference to campaigning in his keynote speech.

There had been intense speculation leading up to the event that he would step down.

Sir Michael cited his government's record of economic growth, saying it was a reason the 79 National Alliance candidates should be elected when PNG voters head to the polls in late June.

He also said the government of Peter O'Neill had acted unacceptably by legislating in December last year to dump him from his seat of East Sepik.

Sir Michael has held the seat for 44 years.

"After July a new chapter in my life will begin," he said.

"I believe a new political era will also begin for PNG in July. We have seen over the last nine months what we do not want to happen in PNG.

"We don't want a parliament full of liars, we don't want gross abuse of powers, we don't want unnecessary deficits because we have gone on a spending spree in an election year," he said, referring to controversial laws, such as the Judicial Conduct Act, passed by the O'Neill government.

Sir Michael was PNG's first prime minister, serving from independence in 1975 until 1980, and again from 1982 to 1985.

In 2002 he retook the top job a third time and was PNG's longest-serving PM until he was suspended for two weeks in early March 2011 after being found guilty of personal financial misconduct.

In April 2011 he flew to Singapore for heart surgery and was not heard from for almost five months.

In his absence, his political enemies sharpened their knives and on August 2 parliament voted to dump him as PM.

The Supreme Court on December 12 last year ruled that move unconstitutional, a decision that sparked a rolling crisis culminating in a failed coup by Somare supporters in January.


AAP

Comments

  1. AnonymousMay 7, 2012 at 11:19 AM

    Somares and their lies are well known only this time they will not get any more sympathy. As we thought he was quitting he is coming back... What power hungry leader and family the Somares boast of?O'Namahs and allies should go all out for eradication of those morons!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousMay 7, 2012 at 1:25 PM

    Spies at Dynasty tell us that no major corporates usually associated with the Somares turned up for corporate dinner. Betha Somares media hype was reason for her father being thrown out of office. Her media hype will not get her father into the chair ever again. Only fools like them would believe in their invincibility. Well they are not. They have fed enough from PNG people and their resources. Their dynasty has been broken forever!!! Well done O'Namahs!!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousMay 7, 2012 at 5:01 PM

    Where did AAP get that crab from? All other media outlets have Somare contesting election and going for PM's post for his son Arthur so that Betha can have a high profile media job!!! We hear ABC has reported Somare contesting 2012 national elections in clear contrast to AAP and Betha.

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousMay 7, 2012 at 5:25 PM

    Is Arthur Somare locking away all other leaders so that they do not become threat to his family's dynasty? No on 15 May, O'Namahs will show Somares their fights are far from over... What's next Arthur? Who would you use for your selfish ambition?

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousMay 7, 2012 at 8:39 PM

    Somare has distabilised well qualified & experienced Sepiks for his own good.

    The Angoram people will be stupid to vote Arthur.

    Because of Somare Gabriel Kapris is asking for sepik central province.

    Wewak town land is owned by somares & not any other sepiks & the business are partly owned by somares.

    Somares have no land to cultivate & the only resource is murik lake & no other resource.

    Somares, Oniels & the Namah must go for no coming back plus all their cronies.

    ReplyDelete
  6. AnonymousMay 7, 2012 at 11:19 PM

    Can Arthur Somare or Betha Somare respond please? It is very depressing to read how bad Somares are.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AnonymousJune 6, 2012 at 10:36 AM

    Where did this AAP got this news from?Betha,I dont think so because Somare is still contesting for his hungry power.

    ReplyDelete

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