Sydney Morning Herald/AAP: 14 July 1999
POLITICS: MORAUTA ELECTED PNG PM AFTER STUNNING POLITICAL SWITCH
Sir Mekere Morauta has capped a dramatic political turnaround by being voted Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, and then telling MPs they had chosen order over chaos.
PORT MORESBY: Sir Mekere Morauta capped a dramatic political turnaround today by being voted Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister, and then told MPs they had chosen order over chaos.
But Sir Mekere warned parliament in his first speech as prime
minister that the road to restoring PNG's ailing economy and bringing
better living conditions to its people would not be easy.
The leader of the People's Democratic Movement was elected prime minister by an overwhelming 99 votes to five. The only other nominee was East New Britain Governor Francis Koimanrea.
Even by the unpredictable standards of PNG politics Sir Mekere's appointment was a surprise, coming less than 24 hours after it appeared former speaker John Pundari had sewn up the numbers to claim the leadership.
Mr Pundari, 32, was nominated for the job yesterday by outgoing
PM Bill Skate, but today refused to accept the nomination and instead
switched his support to Sir Mekere.
According to former opposition leader Bernard Narokobi, the
crucial change came after the Opposition last night approached Fisheries Minister and former deputy prime minister Chris Haiveta to bring his 10 members of the Pangu Pati across to the Opposition.
Under the proposed deal, Mr Haiveta would have been made prime minister.
Some government MPs who learned of the offer then transferred
their support from Mr Pundari to Mr Haiveta, Mr Narokobi said.
However, news of the Haiveta deal prompted Mr Pundari to suddenly abandon his bid for the leadership and switch the support of his Advance PNG party to Sir Mekere and the opposition, providing the crucial numbers.
Even Mr Skate, who yesterday backed Mr Pundari, voted with the opposition today.
Sir Mekere told parliament his government's priorities would be
to bring stability to the national currency and restore investor
confidence by reviewing the tax system.
He also pledged to return financial stability to PNG by pursuing negotiations for loans from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, and continue the Bougainville peace process.
'Today...we have made a date with destiny. We have chosen order
over chaos. We have chosen hope over despair,' Sir Mekere said.