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News > World

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister Issues Resignation

  • Peter O'Neill, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG), speaks during the opening of the PNG Mining and Petroleum Investment conference

    Peter O'Neill, the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG), speaks during the opening of the PNG Mining and Petroleum Investment conference | Photo: Reuters

Published 26 May 2019
Opinion

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister has made the decision to resign from his post after several members of his government defected to the opposition. 

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Peter O'Neill, announced his resignation on Sunday after serving the country for seven years.  

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Prior to his resignation on Sunday, O'Neill was facing calls for his resignation for weeks over a range of issues. But after several more defections on Friday he accepted he did not have the support to continue.

O'Neill stated during his resignation speech that he would hand over office to former Prime Minister Sir Julius Chan. "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," Mr O'Neill told reporters in the capital Port Moresby, according to Papua New Guinea (PNG) broadcaster EMTV.

Sir Julius said he wanted a smooth transition to ensure stability in the South Pacific nation of 7.3 million people.

"I want to thank the Prime Minister Peter O'Neill for all that he has done to bring this country (to where it is) today," he told journalists."Men and women of Papua New Guinea... we have very short memories. Tomorrow you will look back and see all the things that he has done. But like life itself, you have just got to move on."

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