Rural Development Party

The Rural Development Party was a political party in Papua New Guinea.

Rural Development Party
FounderMoses Maladina
Founded2006
Dissolved2015
IdeologyAgrarianism

It was founded in November 2006 by Esa’ala MP Moses Maladina, who became the party's first leader.[1][2] In May 2007, media reports suggested that some members were unhappy with a perceived lack of party financial support for their campaigns.[3]

It was reported to have won three out of 109 seats at the 2007 general elections: Maladina, Alphonse Moroi (Central Provincial) and Benjamin Philip (Mariyama Open).[4][5][6] A fourth, Manus Provincial MP Michael Sapau, had been reported as a party candidate during the campaign, but denied any association upon his election and claimed to be an independent.[7] The party initially supported the government of Michael Somare, with Maladina being promoted to the Ministry as Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs in July 2010; the party then had a position in the Peter O'Neill government from August 2011.[8][9]

Moroi had joined the National Alliance Party by late 2008.[10] By the 2012 election, Maladina and Philip had defected to the governing People's National Congress, and Maladina was serving as Leader of Government Business. In April 2012, Speaker Jeffrey Nape - formerly of the Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party - was appointed as the new Rural Development Party leader for the election.[11][12]

The party won no seats at the 2012 election and was deregistered in 2015.[13][14]

References
  1. "Maladina eyes top post, forms own party". Maladina eyes top post, forms own party. 7 November 2006.
  2. "Maladina to lead Rural Development party". PNG Post Courier. 2 February 2007.
  3. "Party members cry foul over treatment". PNG Post Courier. 30 May 2007.
  4. "NATIONAL ELECTION 2007". Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  5. "Recruiting drive". PNG Post Courier. 26 July 2007.
  6. "Rural Development Party secures Menyamya seat". PNG Post Courier. 27 July 2007.
  7. "Sapau pledges support for NA". PNG Post Courier. 24 July 2007.
  8. "PM says govt is intact". PNG Post Courier. 29 July 2009.
  9. Lansford, Tom. Political Handbook of the World 2015. CQ Press.
  10. "NA southern batch to host dinner". PNG Post Courier. 4 November 2008.
  11. "Weekend of surprises". PNG Post Courier. 24 July 2012.
  12. "Hon. Benjamin Philip, MP". National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  13. "NATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2012". PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 26 August 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  14. "Political parties cancelled". PNG Post Courier. 20 August 2015.
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