2017 Papua New Guinean general election

2017 Papua New Guinean general election

← 2012 24 June 2017 - 8 July 2017 2022 →
All 111 seats in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea 56 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   NAP Leader Peter O'Neill Patrick Pruaitch Sam Basil Party People's National Congress National Alliance Party Pangu Party Last election 27 7 1 Seats before 54 11 2
Prime Minister before election Peter O'Neill PNC Elected Prime Minister Peter O'Neill PNC

Politics of Papua New Guinea
show The Crown Monarch Elizabeth II Governor-General Bob Dadae
show Executive Cabinet Prime Minister James Marape
show Legislature National Parliament Speaker: Political parties
show Elections Recent elections General: 2007 2012 2017
show Judiciary Supreme Court
show Administrative divisions Administrative divisions Regions Provinces Districts Local-level governments
show Foreign relations Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister: Soroi Eoe Diplomatic missions of / in Papua New Guinea Passport Visa requirements Visa policy
show Related topics 2011–12 constitutional crisis Corruption
Other countries
v t

General elections were held in Papua New Guinea between 24 June and 8 July 2017.^[1]

The writs for the election were issued on 20 April,^[2] and candidate nominations closed on 27 April.^[1]

Sir Michael Somare, the first Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, retired as a Member of National Parliament at the election. Somare has served continuously since he was first elected to the pre-independence House of Assembly in 1968, an unbroken term of 49 years.^[3]

On 1 August 2017 Peter O'Neill was re-elected as Prime Minister by Parliament by a vote of 64–40.^[4]

Electoral system[]

The 111 members of the National Parliament are elected from single-member constituencies by preferential voting; voters are given three preferences, with a candidate declared elected once they receive over 50% of preference votes.^[5]

Election[]

Schedule[]

Important dates in the election are listed below.^[6][7]

The Return of Writs was postponed to 29 July due to few of the 111 seats being declared. The Writs were presented to Governor General Sir Robert Dadae on 29 July by Electoral Commissioner , with only 80 seats declared.^[8]

Candidates[]

The Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission reported in preliminary figures that 3332 candidates have nominated to contest the election, 165 candidates of whom are women.^[9]

Province	Region	Male Candidates	Female Candidates	hideTotal
Chimbu	Highlands Region	309	11	320
Eastern Highlands	Highlands Region	384	12	396
Enga	Highlands Region	154	8	162
Hela	Highlands Region	89	3	92
Jiwaka	Highlands Region	133	5	138
Southern Highlands	Highlands Region	116	1	117
Western Highlands	Highlands Region	95	3	98
A/R Bougainville	NGI Region	68	5	73
East New Britain	NGI Region	79	2	81
Manus	NGI Region	52	8	60
New Ireland	NGI Region	42	4	46
West New Britain	NGI Region	68	0	68
East Sepik	Momase Region	163	11	174
Madang	Momase Region	253	14	267
Morobe	Momase Region	314	13	327
West Sepik	Momase Region	92	5	97
Central	Papua Region	133	14	147
Gulf	Papua Region	133	12	145
Milne Bay	Papua Region	96	5	101
National Capital District	Papua Region	128	13	141
Northern	Papua Region	95	8	103
Western	Papua Region	171	8	179
Total		3167	165	3332

Campaigning[]

There has reportedly been less activity in the 2017 election compared to previous elections, with PNG National Party Leader saying "There is less colour, less movement, and that's not good, because you need to have some level of activity for educational purposes".^[10] Four people died in clashes regarding the election, with several candidates attacked during campaigning or nominations, to which Electoral Comisisoner said "We have not gone into polls yet but already people are engaging in violent activities, threats and intimidation — that's unnecessary."^[10]

Ezekiel Anisi, MP for Ambunti-Dreikikir Open died suddenly on 24 May 2017 at a Port Moresby guesthouse in the midst of his re-election campaign.^[11]

Concerns[]

The Bank of Papua New Guinea is concerned that 160 Million Kina of old currency which was stolen has the potential to influence the election.^[12] There are concerns in the Menyama District of Morobe Province that poor weather conditions affecting road transport could cause issues with the transportation of polling materials closer towards the election.^[13]

Significant issues with voting had arisen by late June. On 27 June, the day voting was due to begin in the National Capital District, voting in all three electorates there was delayed until 30 June after polling officials went on strike due to unpaid allowances. At least sixteen electoral officials were arrested, including NCD election manager Terrence Hetinu, who was found with US$57,000 in cash stored in his car, while NCD assistant returning officer Roselyn Tobogani was arrested after officials were found smuggling ballot papers out of the provincial election office.^[14][15][16]

Voting in Chimbu Province, Hela Province and Western Highlands Province failed to begin on schedule on 26 June due to issues with the common roll and disputes over numbers of ballot papers, while voting in Eastern Highlands Province only commenced on a limited basis amidst reports that "thousands of students" had been left off the electoral roll.^[14][15]

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato obtained a court order against blogger Martyn Namorong, restricting him from sharing defamatory statements against the commissioner. This came after Gamato received criticism which compared him and his surname to a tomato.^[17]

Results[]

No women were elected, making Papua New Guinea one of only three or four countries in the world (as of 1 February 2019) to have no women in the legislature.^[18]

See also[]

• Members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, 2017–2022
• Women in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea

Notes[]

References[]

External links[]

• Papua New Guinea Election Commission
• Registered Political Parties
• Preliminary Candidate Nominations
• Election Dates