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Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O'Neill survives vote of no confidence Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O'Neill survives vote of no confidence
(about 1 month later)
The Papua New Guinean prime minister has resoundingly survived a vote of no confidence despite nationwide protests and strikes by pilots, transport workers, and doctors.The Papua New Guinean prime minister has resoundingly survived a vote of no confidence despite nationwide protests and strikes by pilots, transport workers, and doctors.
After more than two years of political crisis over a long-running corruption investigation culminated in police shooting at students at a protest last month, the parliament sat on Friday to determine the future of Peter O’Neill.After more than two years of political crisis over a long-running corruption investigation culminated in police shooting at students at a protest last month, the parliament sat on Friday to determine the future of Peter O’Neill.
The opposition leader, Don Polye, had been nominated as an alternative leader but both he and O’Neill were prevented from speaking after the parliamentary debate was shut down.The opposition leader, Don Polye, had been nominated as an alternative leader but both he and O’Neill were prevented from speaking after the parliamentary debate was shut down.
The supreme court had ordered the parliament to be recalled to vote on the opposition’s motion, and huge crowds of Papua New Guineans queued on Friday morning to attend. Police have been placed on high alert.The supreme court had ordered the parliament to be recalled to vote on the opposition’s motion, and huge crowds of Papua New Guineans queued on Friday morning to attend. Police have been placed on high alert.
Crowd waiting to attend vote of no confidence in PNG Parliament this morning @RAPacificBeat @abcnews pic.twitter.com/z23dWZo8v1Crowd waiting to attend vote of no confidence in PNG Parliament this morning @RAPacificBeat @abcnews pic.twitter.com/z23dWZo8v1
Legislative changes by O’Neill’s government had previously lengthened to 30 months the period of time during which such a vote could not be called against a sitting prime minister.Legislative changes by O’Neill’s government had previously lengthened to 30 months the period of time during which such a vote could not be called against a sitting prime minister.
O’Neill was confident he had the numbers to survive Friday’s vote, with at least 60 but up to about 80 of the 111-strong parliament.O’Neill was confident he had the numbers to survive Friday’s vote, with at least 60 but up to about 80 of the 111-strong parliament.
Related: Papua New Guinea's students have a point. Peter O'Neill should talk to them, not send police | Jonathan Pyke
After heated debate descended into a shouting match, the speaker shut off microphones and allowed no further motions.After heated debate descended into a shouting match, the speaker shut off microphones and allowed no further motions.
A vote was called and MPs decided to keep O’Neill as leader by a margin of 85 to 21.A vote was called and MPs decided to keep O’Neill as leader by a margin of 85 to 21.
Public dissatisfaction with O’Neill came to a head last month after a boycott of classes by students at PNG universities, who called for O’Neill’s resignation.Public dissatisfaction with O’Neill came to a head last month after a boycott of classes by students at PNG universities, who called for O’Neill’s resignation.
Police fired live ammunition into a crowd attempting to march on parliament last month and shot a number of students. Protests escalated and vehicles and buildings were torched in violent clashes, during which one student was killed.Police fired live ammunition into a crowd attempting to march on parliament last month and shot a number of students. Protests escalated and vehicles and buildings were torched in violent clashes, during which one student was killed.
The academic year was cancelled at one campus, but protests continued. Pilots and doctors joined the strikes.The academic year was cancelled at one campus, but protests continued. Pilots and doctors joined the strikes.
During Friday’s debate the deputy opposition leader, Samuel Basil, accused O’Neill of not allowing parliament to debate issues, citing the no confidence motion – eventually ordered by the supreme court – as an example.During Friday’s debate the deputy opposition leader, Samuel Basil, accused O’Neill of not allowing parliament to debate issues, citing the no confidence motion – eventually ordered by the supreme court – as an example.
“He is destroying parliament’s right of debate, right of decision making, and right to hold the [leadership] accountable,” said Basil.“He is destroying parliament’s right of debate, right of decision making, and right to hold the [leadership] accountable,” said Basil.
Kelly Naru, the governor of Morobe, spoke in support of O’Neill and questioned the constitutionality of the court order on parliament. He said O’Neill was entitled to the presumption of innocence. He called protesters of recent weeks “domestic terrorists” and urged that they face “the full force of the law”.Kelly Naru, the governor of Morobe, spoke in support of O’Neill and questioned the constitutionality of the court order on parliament. He said O’Neill was entitled to the presumption of innocence. He called protesters of recent weeks “domestic terrorists” and urged that they face “the full force of the law”.
Ben Micah, who had defected to the opposition ranks, said the situation in PNG was “escalating beyond control” and urged the parliament to listen to the striking pilots, doctors and nurses.Ben Micah, who had defected to the opposition ranks, said the situation in PNG was “escalating beyond control” and urged the parliament to listen to the striking pilots, doctors and nurses.
“We do not see the pain people out there are feeling,” he said. “It makes government become oblivious, arrogant, insensitive to what our real responsibility should be.”“We do not see the pain people out there are feeling,” he said. “It makes government become oblivious, arrogant, insensitive to what our real responsibility should be.”
Government MPs had spent the past week at a camp in Alotau, Milne Bay province, ostensibly to discuss and review policy.Government MPs had spent the past week at a camp in Alotau, Milne Bay province, ostensibly to discuss and review policy.
Quarantined from the influence of opposition members in Port Moresby, the camp has released several statements of support for O’Neill, but questions have also been raised about the presence of departmental heads and reports of fast-tracked payments to provincial leaders.Quarantined from the influence of opposition members in Port Moresby, the camp has released several statements of support for O’Neill, but questions have also been raised about the presence of departmental heads and reports of fast-tracked payments to provincial leaders.
Despite having only about 20 in the ranks, opposition members claimed confidence as several former prime ministers – including grand chief Sir Michael Somare – publicly moved to their side.Despite having only about 20 in the ranks, opposition members claimed confidence as several former prime ministers – including grand chief Sir Michael Somare – publicly moved to their side.
Under PNG law an alternative prime minister must be voted for when no confidence is expressed in the leader.Under PNG law an alternative prime minister must be voted for when no confidence is expressed in the leader.
The deputy opposition leader, Samuel Basil, had earlier said his side was confident “the government will change on Friday”, despite Polye not being announced as an alternative candidate until parliament began the debate on Friday.The deputy opposition leader, Samuel Basil, had earlier said his side was confident “the government will change on Friday”, despite Polye not being announced as an alternative candidate until parliament began the debate on Friday.
This was not unusual, said Sean Dorney, a non-resident fellow at the Lowy Institute and former ABC correspondent for PNG.This was not unusual, said Sean Dorney, a non-resident fellow at the Lowy Institute and former ABC correspondent for PNG.
“It’s often down to the wire, and it’s often the night before,” Dorney told Guardian Australia before the vote.“It’s often down to the wire, and it’s often the night before,” Dorney told Guardian Australia before the vote.
“There have been instances that on the night before the team you thought was going to take over has split irrevocably.“There have been instances that on the night before the team you thought was going to take over has split irrevocably.
“A week ago I’d have said there was so much upheaval and carry on was because [O’Neill] couldn’t be defeated in parliament.“A week ago I’d have said there was so much upheaval and carry on was because [O’Neill] couldn’t be defeated in parliament.
Related: Papua New Guinea prime minister Peter O'Neill must resign, say former leaders
“Those who want to get rid of O’Neill will go to any lengths to do it. Now it actually appears that stranglehold may not be what it was two weeks ago.”“Those who want to get rid of O’Neill will go to any lengths to do it. Now it actually appears that stranglehold may not be what it was two weeks ago.”
Dorney predicted the vote would result in a peaceful transition to a new prime minister or acceptance of O’Neill remaining as leader. Despite previous military involvement in leadership stoushes, it was unlikely that would occur in this case, he said.Dorney predicted the vote would result in a peaceful transition to a new prime minister or acceptance of O’Neill remaining as leader. Despite previous military involvement in leadership stoushes, it was unlikely that would occur in this case, he said.
With O’Neill’s remaining as prime minister, eyes will focus on the massing groups of students, civil society groups and disaffected citizens who had called for his resignation.With O’Neill’s remaining as prime minister, eyes will focus on the massing groups of students, civil society groups and disaffected citizens who had called for his resignation.
The political crisis stems from a 2014 arrest warrant for O’Neill to present for questioning about a long-running corruption investigation into government payments made to a Port Moresby law firm. He has been accused of authorising the payments.The political crisis stems from a 2014 arrest warrant for O’Neill to present for questioning about a long-running corruption investigation into government payments made to a Port Moresby law firm. He has been accused of authorising the payments.
Papua New Guineans have been angered by O’Neill refusing to be questioned and taking extraordinary action – including sacking top government ministers and officials and disbanding anti-fraud bodies.Papua New Guineans have been angered by O’Neill refusing to be questioned and taking extraordinary action – including sacking top government ministers and officials and disbanding anti-fraud bodies.
“He’s not the quintessentially evil person his critics are painting him as but what he’s allowed to arise is this belief that he’s placed himself above the law,” said Dorney.“He’s not the quintessentially evil person his critics are painting him as but what he’s allowed to arise is this belief that he’s placed himself above the law,” said Dorney.
O’Neill has said the investigation into him is ridiculous and claimed he was simply exercising his constitutional right to challenge the warrant.O’Neill has said the investigation into him is ridiculous and claimed he was simply exercising his constitutional right to challenge the warrant.