PNG PM O'Neill announces resignation

SYDNEY - Embattled Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O'Neill announced his resignation in the capital city of Port Moresby on Sunday, after a series of ministers defected from his cabinet.

With a pending vote of no confidence scheduled for Monday, the leadership challenge was expected to gain the majority support of MPs. As a result, O'Neill cited the parliament's "need for change" as the reason for his departure.

Holding the office since 2012 and overseeing the success of last year's APEC summit, O'Neill handed over the leadership to former prime minister Julius Chan, EMTV reported.

"We are a government that listens to the people," O'Neill told a media conference. "We have achieved quite a substantial amount of development. But all good things come to an end."

"It is important that we maintain a certain amount of stability. We have heard the calls and we have agreed for a change of government," he added.

Beginning with the resignation of former finance minister James Marape in April, a chain of other government MPs followed and the group eventually approved a vote of no confidence against O'Neill.

While the government battled to hold on to its majority in the 111-seat parliament, further defections on Friday appeared to suggest the opposition block had 62 MPs on board - enough to secure victory in their leadership challenge.

With no room to move, it is expected that O'Neill's departure will be made official in the coming days, when he submits a letter of resignation to the country's governor general.

"We will provide the numbers for the stability of the country, we will do so because we respect the people," O'Neill said.

"I will be visiting the governor general to make sure that we pave way for a new government and a new leadership of a new government."

In the meantime, veteran Papua New Guinea politician and former prime minister Julius Chan, has taken control of the leadership.

"The strength of the government is not about numbers. It's the transition of power from one government to another in tranquillity and smoothness," Chan said.

"I want to thank the prime minister, Peter O'Neill, for all that he has done to bring this country today."

Xinhua

(China Daily 05/27/2019 page11)