Ipatas challenges Marape as prime minister
28 November 2024
MICHAEL KABUNI
| Academia Nomad
PORT MORESBY - A seventh attempt to mount a challenge against prime minister James Marape got underway yesterday in Papua New Guinea’s parliament.
Acting Speaker Koni Iguan informed parliament that he had received a motion for another vote of no confidence against Marape when parliament met for its November 2024 sitting.
The grace period during which prime ministers are safe from no confidence motions ended in February this year.
Since then….
- a vote of no confidence was attempted in every parliamentary sitting this year
- three different prime ministerial nominees challenged Marape
- six notices for a vote of no confidence were rejected
- one notice for a vote of no confidence has been accepted
- incumbent prime minister Marape defeated the challenger each time
- during these challenges some 30 MPs switched sides between government and opposition
- opposition MP Rainbo Paita, who challenged and lost, has since rejoined the government
Now Enga Governor Sir Peter Ipatas has launched another challenge against Marape, the seventh this year.
My thoughts on the relative benefit of Ipatas as prime minister:
He is one of very few MPs who have criticised the failing policies of the Marape government.
Like East Sepik’s Governor Allan Bird, Ipatas is a senior politician who presents as something of a statesman.
He has continuously raised concerns about the breakdown of law and order in many parts of PNG, including his own Enga Province.
He is from the Highlands and will likely get down and dirty if he believes that is required to draw the numbers his way.
Ipatas has not previously shown any interest in becoming prime minister, so the current challenge is a test of his ability to manoeuvre through the intricacies of PNG politics.
My verdict: Ipatas over Marape.
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