Papua New Guinea - Political parties

Political parties in PNG lack ideological conviction and rely almost exclusively on patronage politics, personalism, and regional bases. Several parties have emerged in Papua New Guinean politics. In the House of Assembly elected in 1973, the Pangu Pati, headed by Michael Somare, formed a coalition government with the People's Progress Party, and Somare became prime minister. Opposition parties at the time were the United Party, which maintains a strong following in the Highlands, and the Papua Besena Party, which stands for the secession of Papua from Papua New Guinea and has had fluctuating support even on its home ground.

Generally, party allegiances have been fluid, with regional and tribal politics impacting greatly on political events. The People's Democratic Movement, formed in 1985 by dissident members of the Pangu Pati, won 18 seats in the 1987 elections, while the Pangu Pati captured 25. Parties that participated in the 1997 elections were the Pangu Pati, People's National Congress, the People's Progress Party, and the People's Democratic Movement. In April 1998, Skate announced the formation of a new political alliance; the Papua New Guinea First Party led by his People's National Congress Party. More than 40 parties registered to participate in the June 2002 elections. In those elections, Michael Somare's National Alliance Party took 19 seats, and formed a 13-party coalition. Former Prime Minister Mekere Morauta's People's Democratic Movement took 13 seats.

User Contributions:

wilson thompson orlegge

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With introduction of Constituitional Laws, there is now a shift towards the development of political parties. Despite personality politics, political parties have evolved even before Indepdendence and the Consitution is a result of various political parties. Thougfh, it is fluid, parties should have been strengthened before or just after Independence rather the the Amendments and Organic Law in 2001, which generally would see its first full five years from 2007.

Akuli Swinton Noah

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The introduction of new Political paties is a hindrance to the development of the nation of Papua New Guinea. This is obvious in the case of forming of new government in which the previious government may have different plans for the nations deelopment but when the government is changed, the plans put forward by the previous government is partly implemented or at most not implemented. This is a typical Papua New Guinean style of government. As a result, most leaders do what they think is good for their prestige rather than continuing from where the previous government has left. All these things are results of many political parties and their plicies. Therefore, I think its best to have a political party that would serve as a flat-form for any party which could allow them to have some commo policies.

Shanice Salonica

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Do political parties in Papua New Guinea solve Plato's conundrum?

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