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%.
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All 109 seats in the National Parliament 55 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 60.35% | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 New Guinea portal |
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 Pati | 35 | 30 | ||
| People's Progress Party | 15 | 16 | ||
| United Party | 10 | 23 | ||
| Papua Besena | 5 | 5 | ||
| Country Party | 3 | 2 | ||
| National Party | 2 | 2 | ||
| Mataungan Association | 3 | |||
| Independents | 30 | 27 | ||
| Vacant | 1 | |||
| Total | 109 | |||
| Total votes | 970,172 | – | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 1,607,635 | 60.35 | ||
| 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 Minister | Michael Somare | Pangu Party |
| Deputy Prime Minister | Julius Chan | People's Progress Party |
| Minister of Commerce | Pita Lus | Pangu Party |
| Minister of Decentralisation | John Momis | Independent |
| Minister of Defence | Louis Mona | People's Progress Party |
| Minister of Education, Science and Culture | Oscar Tammur | Independent |
| Minister of Environment, Conservation and Human Settlement | Stephen Tago | Pangu Party |
| Minister of Finance | Barry Holloway | Pangu Party |
| Minister of Foreign Relations and Trade | Ebia Olewale | Pangu Party |
| Minister of Health | Wiwia Korowei | People's Progress Party |
| Minister of Justice and Liquor Licensing | Delba Biri | Pangu Party |
| Minister of Labour and Industry | Jacob Lemeki | People's Progress Party |
| Minister of Media | Tom Koraea | Pangu Party |
| Minister of Natural Resources | Boyamo Sali | Pangu Party |
| Minister of Police and Corrective Institutions | Patterson Lowa | Pangu Party |
| Minister of Public Utilities | Gabriel Bakani | People's Progress Party |
| Minister of Transport, Works and Supply | Bruce Jephcott | People's Progress Party |
| Minister of Youth | Pato Kakarya | Independent |
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.
References
- Dieter Nohlen, Florian Grotz & Christof Hartmann (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p770 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
- No jumping PNG election gun Pacific Islands Monthly, August 1976, p18
- PNG's elections: A cliffhanger and a lesson for the future Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1977, pp16–17
- 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)
- Somare's team grows Pacific Islands Monthly, October 1977, p20
- Nohlen et al., p774
- Somare leads a new look team Pacific Islands Monthly, September 1977, p9