PANGU – WHERE TO NOW?
Papua New Guinea will be without its founding political party, the PANGU Pati as it heads into its 40th year of independence in a couple of years’ time.
And for the next four and a half years, it will not have a voice on the floor. Its house is in tatters, split apart by two disputing administration executives
The once dominant Pangu unfortunately lost its only sitting member of parliament and Member for Angoram Ludwig Shulze a couple of weeks back due to illness.
Except for the late Shulze, it did not fare well in the national elections since the 90’s following the fall-out with the Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, its founding leader who took Papua New Guinea to independence in 1975.
The grand chief is still around but is aligned with the National Alliance, the only political party to have ruled for a solid nine years until the political impasse of 2011.
In the 80’s under Sir Michael, it almost brought in the numbers for a one-party rule. In the 90’s to mid-2000, it was reduced to six, then to just one in 2012 until the passing of the late Shulze.
The Pangu Pati was influential in the formative years of Papua New Guinea, contributing immensely towards its socio economic and political destiny.
But in the 7th and 8th parliament, its numbers started dwindling thus it influence as political infighting from among its own rank and file took the better of it.
Will the party ever rise from the ash? Along with the People’s Progress, the United and Country parties, they may have during their time developed and sold policies that were lasting and achievable compared to the current ad hoc decisions.
Pangu seemed invincible going by its election slogan “Pangu Save Rot.” That unfortunately, is only a figment of many a post-independence dream.”
“Pangu is full of history but is the party becoming history itself now?”
