Asia Times: People's Democratic party chief contender for new PNG PM



	July 09, 1999	atimes.com

Oceania

People's Democratic party chief contender for new PNG PM

PORT MORESBY - The leader of the Papua New Guinea (PNG) People's Democratic Movement, Sir Mekere Morauta, appears to be the strongest prospect to become PNG's next prime minister. Speculation about the position follows Bill Skate's announcement that he will quit the nation's top political post.

But such is the fractious and fluid nature of PNG politics that nothing is certain. Only last week, Skate vowed that he would continue as Prime Minister until 2002, denying he was under pressure to resign as his coalition disintegrated around him and his government lurched from crisis to crisis.

MPs belonging to the plethora of political parties in PNG frequently swap between the government and opposition benches and it is not unknown for a party to have members sitting on both sides. Governments and the nation's top political posts are determined by brittle coalitions as MPs appear to change their political loyalty according to what is offered them.

PNG's national parliament is expected to elect a new prime minister on July 13, when it resumes after a seven-month adjournment. Sir Mekere has the largest bloc of supporters - about 40 - in the 109-seat chamber and appears the best chance of getting the prime ministership.

Sir Mekere deserted Skate's shaky coalition government last month to join ranks with Speaker John Pundari's Advance PNG party and smaller opposition parties led by Bernard Narokobi. Together, they claimed to have 81 MPs, among the 103 sitting members in the parliament, ready to unseat Skate in a no-confidence motion that was expected to be moved against Skate soon after parliament resumed.

Sir Mekere said he was confident that he would be the next prime minister. ''I do have the numbers, yes, and a sufficient buffer in it to withstand shocks,'' he said. But he refused to write off Skate.

University of PNG Emeritus Professor Jim Griffin said Skate could renominate for the prime minister's job when parliament resumed or even try to form an alliance with Pundari.

Skate said he was quitting as prime minister to ''stabilize politics.'' He said he believed he still had the support to withstand a vote of no confidence but his coalition partners saw him as an obstacle to the government's survival.

Skate said it was up to government MPs to decide if he should renominate for the prime ministership. ''I am not power hungry,'' he said. ''All I can do is sit back and if they don't want me I will give them advice when necessary."

Skate said he hoped to return as prime minister at the next election in 2002. ''I hope to return in the year 2002 as a better person and a stronger prime minister,'' he said.

(Asia Pulse)