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All 118 seats in the National Parliament 60 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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 New Guineaportal |
General elections were held in Papua New Guinea from 4 to 22 July 2022 to elect the members of the National Parliament for a new five-year term. [1] [2]
During the previous elections in 2017, the People's National Congress (PNC), led by prime minister Peter O'Neill, won a plurality, securing 28 seats. The National Alliance Party (NAP) won 15 seats; the United Resources Party (URP) secured ten seats whilst the Pangu Pati won nine. The People's Progress Party and the Papua New Guinea Party won five seats each, the Triumph Heritage Empowerment Rural Party secured four seats, whilst the National Party won three seats. The People's Labour Party (PLP), the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the People's Party won two seats each. Independents won 14 seats, and minor parties secured the remainder. [3] No women were elected, which made Papua New Guinea one of the few countries in the world at the time to have no female members of the national legislature. [4] Significant irregularities marred that election, with a minimum of sixteen electoral officials arrested for corruption. [5] The National Parliament re-elected Peter O'Neill as prime minister. [6]
In 2019, cabinet members and the ruling coalition began to express discontent toward O'Neill's leadership, with many defecting to the opposition. [7] O'Neill resigned from the premiership on 29 May after it became apparent that he would lose a vote of no confidence. [8]
James Marape, who served as O'Neill's minister of finance and had defected from the PNC to the Pangu Pati shortly before, was elected by the National Parliament to succeed O'Neill as prime minister. [9] In October 2019, Marape became the leader of the Pangu Pati. [10]
In December 2019, the autonomous region of Bougainville voted in a landslide for independence from Papua New Guinea. Due to the country's immense ethnic and linguistic diversity, some national parliament members feared that Bougainville's departure could inspire other regions to demand independence from Papua New Guinea. [11] In 2021, the autonomous region's president, Ishmael Toroama, announced that Bougainville would declare independence by 2027. [12]
Marape's government faced a crisis in November 2020 that saw the defection of numerous cabinet ministers and other coalition members to the opposition. Marape then attempted to pass an emergency budget in 2021 without the presence of the opposition. Although it passed, the supreme court declared the session unconstitutional. Marape then recessed parliament for four months to ensure he did not lose a vote of no confidence before the 2022 election. [13]
Deputy prime minister Sam Basil was killed in a car accident on 11 May 2022. His death, which occurred hours before nominations were scheduled to open, caused the electoral commission to delay the election until July. [14] Basil was succeeded by John Rosso, who was sworn in on 25 May. [15]
The 118 members of the National Parliament are elected from single-member constituencies by limited instant-runoff voting; voters are given up to three preferences, with a candidate declared elected once they received over 50% of preference votes. [16] Of the 118 members, 96 are elected from "open" seats and 22 from provincial seats based on the twenty provinces, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and the National Capital District. The winners of the provincial seats also become the provincial governor. [17]
Vote counting began on 29 July. Due to the voting system, vote staggering and how rural much of the country is, the vote counting usually takes several weeks.
The voting period, staggered from 9 to 22 July, is preceded by an official campaign period from 12 May to 8 July, during which over 3,000 candidates competed. [17]
In early June Australia sent 130 troops to Papua New Guinea to assist with the electoral process in logistics and air transport to transfer election material throughout the country for the duration of the election and subsequent tallying process. [18]
Voting commenced on 4 July. Joseph Tondop, the police chief superintendent, warned voters not to engage in the practice of vote-buying. He also guaranteed that the presence of security forces would ensure that the elections would be "free, fair and safe and transparent". [19]
The Commonwealth of Nations sent a delegation headed by the former president of Nauru, Baron Waqa, to observe the electoral process. [20]
As in the previous election, significant issues arose once voting commenced. [21] Due to an outdated electoral roll, authorities turned away an estimated one million voters at polling stations throughout the country, which led to outrage among the denied voters, with individuals in the provinces of Hela and East Sepik responding by setting ballot papers ablaze and damaging ballot boxes. [13] Some polling stations reportedly used rolls from the 2017 or 2012 elections. [22] The electoral commission postponed voting on several occasions in Port Moresby due to logistical issues. [23] Many polling stations had insufficient ballot papers. [13]
Incidents of violence occurred with a young woman killed at a polling station allegedly by police while waiting to cast her vote. Witnesses claim the attack was unprovoked. [24]
Voting ended on 22 July. [25]
Prime Minister James Marape and his Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso were easily re-elected to Parliament: The former obtained 66.8% of the votes from the first count in his constituency of Tari [26] and the second 50.09% of the votes at the first count in his constituency of Lae. [27] The Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition, Patrick Pruaitch (leader of the National Alliance Party), was beaten in his Aitape-Lumi constituency, which he had represented in Parliament from 2002. People's National Congress candidate, Anderson Mise, won this seat. [28] Peter O'Neill (leader of the People's National Congress), another major opposition figure and former Prime Minister, was re-elected in his constituency of Ialibu-Pangia. [29]
The Minister of Agriculture John Simon (Pangu Pati) was defeated in his constituency of Maprik, in the 26th round of vote counting, by the candidate of the People's National Congress, Gabriel Kapris, former Minister of Commerce and Industries. [30] Former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan (People's Progress Party) was re-elected governor and MP for the province of New Ireland, in the first count with 54.7% of the vote. [31] Another former prime minister, Paias Wingti (People's Democratic Movement), lost his post as governor of the Western Highlands province and as a member of parliament. [32]
While Parliament had no female MPs during the 2017-2022 legislature, two candidates were successful in the 2022 election. The economist Rufina Peter (People's National Congress) was elected MP and Governor of the Central Province; defeating the incumbent, Robert Agarobe (Pangu Pati). [33] Kessy Sawang (People First Party) won the Rai Coast Constituency. [34]
Allan Marat (Melanesian Liberal Party), a figure in the fight against corruption, MP since 2002 and former Deputy Prime Minister and Attorney General, was beaten by only three votes in his constituency of Rabaul. He obtained, 49.99% against 50.01% for his opponent Graham Rumet of Pangu Pati. This was the closest result in the history of Papua New Guinea's parliamentary elections. [35]
Michael Marum, former coach of the Papua New Guinea rugby league team, was elected governor and MP for the province of East New Britain. [36] William Nakin, Member of Parliament for Bougainville-North for the National Alliance Party, was re-elected post-mortem, having died on 12 July during the ballot. [37]
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Following the elections, Marape was re-elected prime minister unopposed. [38]
The prehistory of Papua New Guinea can be traced to about 50,000–60,000 years ago, when people first migrated towards the Australian continent. The written history began when European navigators first sighted New Guinea in the early part of the 17th century.
The politics of Papua New Guinea takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic multi-party system, whereby the prime minister is the head of government. Papua New Guinea is an independent Commonwealth realm, with the monarch serving as head of state and a governor-general, nominated by the National Parliament, serving as their representative. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament.
Sir Julius Chan is a Papua New Guinean politician who served as Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1980 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1997. He is Member of Parliament for New Ireland Province, having won the seat in the 2007 national election. He is also the current Governor of New Ireland Province, since 2007. On 26 May 2019, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill announced he would soon resign and that he wished for Sir Julius to succeed him. An outgoing Prime Minister does not, however, have the power to appoint his successor, and the following day O'Neill delayed his own formal resignation. He was also a leading figure in his country during the years-long Bougainville conflict.
The People's Democratic Movement is a political party in Papua New Guinea.
The Pangu Pati, officially Papua na Niugini Yunion Pati, is a nationalist and developmentalist political party on the centre-left in Papua New Guinea. The party is the oldest political party in Papua New Guinea and has held all levels of government throughout its history. As of 2023, it is the largest party in the National Parliament.
Sir Mekere Morauta was a Papua New Guinean politician and economist who served as the 7th Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1999 to 2002. Inheriting a depressed economy and a fractious legislature, he embarked on fundamental reforms of the country's economy and political system.
The National Executive Council (NEC), also known as the Cabinet of Papua New Guinea functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the government system of Papua New Guinea. The Prime Minister and Ministers serve as members of the Cabinet.
Francis Marus is a Papua New Guinean politician. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Talasea Open. He was Minister for Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology in the government of Peter O'Neill from July 2016. He was previously the Deputy Speaker of the National Parliament from 2007 to 2012. He has variously represented the Pangu Party (2007–2012), the Papua New Guinea Party (2012–2013), the United Resources Party (2013–2014) and the People's National Congress (2014–present).
James Marape is a Papua New Guinean politician who has served as the prime minister of Papua New Guinea since May 2019. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Tari-Pori Open in Hela Province in the New Guinea Highlands. He has held Cabinet Posts as Minister of Education (2008–2011), Minister of Finance (2012–2019), and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2023–present). Marape entered the 2022 elections under the banner of the Pangu Party and won the most seats, while still being far from a majority. He was therefore able to form government, which was elected unopposed by the new parliament.
Sir Puka Temu,, is a Papua New Guinean politician. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since 2002, representing the electorate of Abau Open. A former Deputy Prime Minister under Michael Somare, he is part of Prime Minister James Marape's government as a member of the Our Development Party.
Peter Charles Paire O'Neill is a Papua New Guinean politician who served as the seventh Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2011 to 2019. He has been a Member of Parliament for Ialibu-Pangia since 2002. He was a former cabinet minister and the leader of the People's National Congress between 2006 and 2022. He resigned his position as prime minister to avoid a vote of no confidence, and he was succeeded by James Marape.
Belden Namah is a Papua New Guinean politician. Namah is a member of the National Parliament for the Papua New Guinea Party, and has represented Vanimo-Green River District since 2007. He served in the Cabinet from 2007 to 2010, and as Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2012. In 2012, Namah became a member of the opposition. After retaining his seat in the 2022 election, he said that he would not rejoin the opposition.
Aide Ganasi was a Papua New Guinean politician. He was a People's National Congress member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea from July 2012 to March 2013 and from September 2013 until November 2016, representing the electorate of South Fly Open.
Samuel H. Basil was a Papua New Guinean politician. He was a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea from 2007, representing the electorate of Bulolo Open, until his death in 2022. From 8 June 2019, to August 2019 Basil served as the Treasurer of Papua New Guinea.
Patrick Pruaitch, CMG is a Papua New Guinea politician who represented the Aitape-Lumi constituency in the West Sepik Province of Papua New Guinea in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2022. He was a Cabinet Minister with few interruptions from 2002–2010 and from 2012–2017. From November 2019–November 2020, he was Minister for Foreign Affairs. From 2017–2019 and 2020-2022 he was Leader of the Opposition. He was twice – in 2019 and 2020 – alternate PM in unsuccessful attempts to unseat the government.
Bryan Jared Kramer is a Papua New Guinea politician and Member of the 10th and 11th Parliament of Papua New Guinea. Formerly a member of the Pangu Party, he founded the Allegiance Party, of which he was the sole MP, in 2018. He ran nine candidates in the 2022 National Elections, including one in each of Madang's seven electorates. Kramer was returned with a sizeable majority, but was unsuccessful in securing the election of another Party member. He was suspended from office on 30 September 2022 pending the outcomes of a leadership tribunal. On Tuesday 28 February 2023 the three-man bench unanimously found Kramer guilty of seven counts against him. A three-man bench recommended dismissal for two counts of "scandalising the judiciary" and fines totalling K10,000 (USD3,000) for five counts related to use of district funds. Kramer was dismissed from office by the Governor General on 24 May 2023. He will not be able to re-contest an election for five years, allowing him to compete in the 2032 election. A by-election for Madang Open will be held in 2024.
Sir Paul Lapun was a Papua New Guinean politician. Both a supporter of independence for Papua New Guinea (PNG) and of the secessionist movement on Bougainville, Lapun served in the House of Assembly of Papua and New Guinea and in the first National Parliament of Papua New Guinea between 1972 and 1975, when he was Minister for Mines and Energy. He was instrumental in obtaining royalties for the people of Bougainville for the copper mine on their island. He was the first Papua New Guinean to receive a knighthood.
Job Pomat CMG is a Papua New Guinean politician. He has represented the electorate of Manus Open in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea on two separate occasions since 2007 and has been Speaker of the National Parliament since 2017.
Events in the year 2022 in Papua New Guinea.
General elections will be held in Papua New Guinea at some point in or before 2027 to elect members of the National Parliament.
