Both opposition and O’Neill confident of winning

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – A prominent Papua New Guinea MP said his loss of confidence in the government led to his crossing the floor to the opposition.

Parliament sat on Friday for the tabling of a motion of no confidence in Prime Minister Peter O’Neill, before being adjourned until this coming Friday when the vote will take place.

In parliament on Friday, Bire Kimisopa and his three New Generation Party MPs, as well as government minister Ben Micah and his People’s Progress Party, crossed the floor to join the opposition.

Kimisopa said the state of the economy, nationwide protests, and the prime minister’s evasion of a corruption investigation led to his decision to cross the floor.

“It’s a culmination of a number of things – political, social and just the complete disrespect for the rule of law and also, I think, a move by our citizens right across the country demanding that there is a change of political direction.

“So our party has decided that it needs to heed the call from our people and make that move appropriately,” he said.

Papua New Guinea’s deputy opposition leader Sam Basil says he believes a no confidence motion in the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill will be successful, despite not knowing whether his bloc has the numbers.

Basil said it won’t be clear whether the 15 member opposition will have the numbers as each side is still trying to rally enough support.

“In PNG politics it’s always determined at the 11th hour. People are talking, and I cannot deny that. Members in government are talking to the opposition. All political parties are talking to each other right now.”

Basil said he suspects money may be involved in some deals to influence MPs, although he has no first-hand evidence.

The vote was supposed to take place on June 8, but parliament was adjourned following the police shooting of students who were trying to march in support of it.

Basil said with universities shut down by protests, and other services threatening to strike if Prime Minister Peter O’Neill doesn’t step down, the country is in crisis and can’t wait another year.

“I think the current situation in Papua New Guinea is crying out for a change. O’Neill is a fighter, he will not go down without fighting but we are very adamant that he has done enough damage to this country and he has to go. Papua New Guineans all over are now asking for the prime minister to step down.”

Two former prime ministers, Sir Michael Somare and Sir Mekere Morauta, have added their weight to calls for O’Neill to step down.

In a statement they said he is bringing the country to its knees – socially, economically and politically – and he “cannot be allowed to do more damage”.

O’Neill has dismissed that statement as nonsense, saying the country’s economy is recovering well from the decline caused by the fall in global commodities’ prices.

He says revenue is improving each month and expenses are under control.

O’Neill said that the economy is performing better than when the former prime ministers were in charge.

O’Neill said he is confident he will survive the vote. He dismissed the motion as a costly attempt by the opposition to cause instability for the sake of political self-indulgence.

- PNC