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.

 

 

Location: Waigani, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

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