Vote of No Confidence In PNG: Understanding the Basic Process
In Papua New Guinea, a vote of no confidence is a mechanism
that allows members of parliament to hold the government accountable. It is a
constitutional provision that enables elected representatives to remove the
Prime Minister and their government from office if they have lost the
confidence of parliament. In this article, we will explain the steps and
process in a vote of no confidence in Papua New Guinea, citing relevant
provisions of the PNG Constitution and the Parliamentary Standing Orders.
Step 1: Giving Notice of Motion
The first step in the vote of no confidence process is
giving notice of motion. According to Section 145(1) of the PNG Constitution, a
member of parliament can move a motion of no confidence against the Prime
Minister by giving notice of the motion to the Speaker of Parliament. The
notice of motion must be in writing and must state the reasons for the motion
of no confidence.
Step 2: Debate on the Motion of No Confidence
Once the notice of motion has been given, the next step is to
debate the motion of no confidence. According to the Parliamentary Standing
Orders, the Speaker of Parliament must allow the motion to be debated within
seven days of receiving the notice of motion. The debate must take place during
a sitting of Parliament and must be given priority over all other business.
During the debate, members of parliament have the
opportunity to speak in support of or against the motion of no confidence. The
Prime Minister and other government ministers are given the opportunity to
defend their positions and respond to the allegations made against them. The
debate must continue until all members of parliament have had the opportunity
to speak, or until a time limit specified by the Speaker has been reached.
Step 3: Vote on the Motion of No Confidence
After the debate, the next step is to vote on the motion of
no confidence. According to Section 145(2) of the PNG Constitution, the motion
of no confidence must be passed by a majority of the members of parliament. If
the motion of no confidence is passed, the Prime Minister and their government
must resign immediately.
Step 4: Appointment of a New Prime Minister
If the motion of no confidence is successful, the
Governor-General must appoint a new Prime Minister. According to Section 142 (5)(a) of
the PNG Constitution, the Governor-General must appoint as Prime Minister the
member of parliament who, in their opinion, is likely to command the confidence
of a majority of the members of parliament.
In conclusion, a vote of no confidence is a crucial
mechanism in Papua New Guinea's parliamentary democracy that allows members of
parliament to hold the government accountable. The process for a vote of no
confidence involves giving notice of motion, debating the motion, voting on the
motion, and appointing a new Prime Minister if the motion is successful. By
understanding these steps and the relevant provisions of the PNG Constitution
and the Parliamentary Standing Orders, we can gain a better understanding of
how the vote of no confidence process works in Papua New Guinea.
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