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O’Neill poised for ousting as Duma’s URP defects to opposition

Duma
William Duma is welcomed into the opposition,  probably signalling the end of Peter O'Neill's rule (EMTV News)

NEWS DESK | Pacific Media Centre | EMTV

AUCKLAND - The biggest coalition partner in prime minister Peter O’Neill’s coalition government has defected to the opposition in the most dramatic shift in numbers in Papua New Guinea’s power struggle.

United Resources Party (URP leader and state enterprises minister William Duma arrived at the Opposition’s Laguna camp early yesterday afternoon following days of intense negotiations behind the scenes.

Duma brought with him 11 MPs to the opposition. They included higher education minister Pila Niningi and police minister Jelta Wong.

Duma immediately held a news conference in which he expressed his reasons for leaving the government. Chief among them was the controversial loan with the Swiss bank UBS.

“I have never come out publicly. But I can say that I was one of those that opposed the UBS deal,” he said.

“My colleagues, Don Polye and Kerenga Kua, we were terminated for speaking out. We were not terminated for incompetence,” he said.

“I forgave our prime minister and I served him. But I have come to a point where I cannot serve this prime minister any more.

“It is in the best interest of the people who we represent that we join the opposition and call for a change in government.”

About half an hour before William Duma’s arrival, commerce and trade minister Wera Mori also arrived at the opposition camp where he was welcomed by opposition MPs.

The Post-Courier newspaper reports that the opposition camp is now understood to have 62 MPs with 56 MPs needed to form a majority in the 111-seat parliament.

Parliament reconvenes on Tuesday.

EMTV News stories are republished with permission

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