1977 Papua New Guinean general election

General elections were held in Papua New Guinea between 18 June and 9 July 1977,[1] the first since independence from Australia in 1975. The Pangu Party led by Prime Minister Michael Somare emerged as the largest in the National Parliament. Somare subsequently formed a coalition government with the People's Progress Party (PPP) and several independent MPs. Voter turnout was 60.3%.

Papua New Guinea
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Papua New Guinea

Background

The usual four-year term of the House of Assembly was extended to five years shortly before independence, pushing back elections to the renamed National Parliament from 1976 to mid-1977. However, in June 1976 Prime Minister Michael Somare proposed holding early elections in November 1976. Although the proposal was approved by a vote of 45 to 40 in parliament, at least half of the 104 MPs were required to vote in favour for the motion to pass.[2] Prior to the elections, the electoral system was changed from single transferable vote to first-past-the-post.[3]

Campaign

Just under 900 candidates contested the elections, with between two and 21 candidates in each constituency. Ten candidates were women.[4] Polling in the Abau Open constituency was postponed due to the death of a candidate.[3]

Results

Three women – Nahau Rooney, Waliyato Clowes and Josephine Abaijah – were elected, a number not repeated until 2012.[4] Nine ministers lost their seats, a number that increased to ten when Reuben Taureka was defeated in the delayed contest in Abau.[5]

Following the elections, most of the independents joined parties at the first sitting of parliament, with Pangu gaining a further ten seats, the PPP four and Papua Besena and the United Party one, leaving eleven members sitting as independents.[6]

Party Votes % Seats
Pangu Party35.030
People's Progress Party15.016
United Party10.023
Papua Besena5.05
Country Party3.02
National Party2.02
Mataungan Association3
Independents30.027
Vacant––1
Invalid/blank votes––
Total970,172100109
Registered voters/turnout1,607,63560.3–
Source: Nohlen et al., Pacific Islands Monthly

Aftermath

Following the elections, Michael Somare was elected Prime Minister, defeating John Guise (who was supported by the United Party) by 69 votes to 36. Somare established a coalition government of the Pangu Party, the People's Progress Party and some independent members, forming an 18-member cabinet. Kingsford Dibela was elected Speaker and Tei Abal of the United Party became Leader of the Opposition.[7]

Position Member Party
Prime MinisterMichael SomarePangu Party
Deputy Prime MinisterJulius ChanPeople's Progress Party
Minister of CommercePita LusPangu Party
Minister of DecentralisationJohn MomisIndependent
Minister of DefenceLouis MonaPeople's Progress Party
Minister of Education, Science and CultureOscar TammurIndependent
Minister of Environment, Conservation and Human SettlementStephen TagoPangu Party
Minister of FinanceBarry HollowayPangu Party
Minister of Foreign Relations and TradeEbia OlewalePangu Party
Minister of HealthWiwia KoroweiPeople's Progress Party
Minister of Justice and Liquor LicensingDelba BiriPangu Party
Minister of Labour and IndustryJacob LemekiPeople's Progress Party
Minister of MediaTom KoraeaPangu Party
Minister of Natural ResourcesBoyamo SaliPangu Party
Minister of Police and Corrective InstitutionsPatterson LowaPangu Party
Minister of Public UtilitiesGabriel BakaniPeople's Progress Party
Minister of Transport, Works and SupplyBruce JephcottPeople's Progress Party
Minister of YouthPato KakaryaIndependent

Later in 1977, Somare appointed four additional ministers; Yano Belo (PPP) as Minister for Works and Supply, Thomas Kavali (Independent) as Minister for Housing, Karl Kitchens as Minister for Minerals and Energy and Nahau Rooney (Independent) as Minister for Corrective Institutions and Liquor Licensing.[5] Rooney became the first woman to hold a cabinet portfolio in Papua New Guinea.

See also

References
  1. Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p770 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  2. No jumping PNG election gun Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1976, p18
  3. PNG's elections: A cliffhanger and a lesson for the future Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1977, pp16–17
  4. Sepoe, Orovu, "To make a difference: Realities of women’s participation in Papua New Guinea politics", Development Bulletin, no. 59, 2002, p.40. (Electronic version Archived 2009-09-13 at the Wayback Machine)
  5. Somare's team grows Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1977, p20
  6. Nohlen et al., p774
  7. Somare leads a new look team Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1977, p9
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