Christian Democratic Party (Papua New Guinea)

The Christian Democratic Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea.

Christian Democratic Party
Leader	Kelly Naru[1]
Secretary	Korowa Pokeya [1]
General Secretary	Dr Banare Bun[1]
Founded	1990s
Ideology	Christian democracy
National Parliament	0 / 111
Politics of Papua New Guinea Political parties Elections

It gained its first representation immediately after the 1997 election, when Puri Ruing, who had been elected for the People's Resources Awareness Party, joined the party.^[2][3][4] The party initially supported the government of Bill Skate, but later supported the government of Mekere Morauta, with Ruing made a minister in his government.^[5] Ruing defected to the People's Democratic Movement later in the term.^[6]

The party won three seats at the 2002 election: Mark Anis (Tambul-Nebilyer Open), Paul Wai (Angalimp-South Wahgi Open) and Dr Banare Bun (Henganofi Open), with Bun becoming parliamentary leader.^[7][8] Wai died in July 2003, and the party did not retain the seat.^[9] In October 2003, Bun criticised the National AIDS Council for using "explicit sexual language" in their information campaigns.^[10] In May 2004, amidst consternation over the role of the Papua New Guinea Party, Bun and Anis were the only recognised members of the opposition.^[11] Anis had defected to the People's Democratic Movement by the time of the 2007 election, at which Bun lost his seat.^[12]

It was revived in late 2015 after nine years of inactivity, with formerly independent Morobe Province governor Kelly Naru as leader and Bun returning as interim secretary. Bun stated that government leaders must "follow the legacy of Christ as a political principle for good governance."^[13][14] The party has a policy of giving "one tenth of earnings as tithes for the work of God", and pledged to campaign for a more equitable distribution of wealth.^[15]

Election results

National elections

Election	Total votes	Share of vote	Seats	+/–	Government
2002			3 / 109	3	in opposition
2017	100,731	1.27	1 / 111	1	in opposition

References

1. "REGISTRY OF POLITICAL PARTIES" (PDF). Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 April 2017. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
2. ""Green" seat-winner switches allegiance". Radio Australia. 25 June 1997.
3. "PNG ministry rewards PM faithful". Australian Financial Review. 30 July 1997.
4. "Parties register for 2002 elections". The National. 22 August 2001.
5. "New MP supports PDM". PNG Post Courier. 9 July 2002.
6. "Foreign, justice ministers sacked in reshuffle". BBC Monitoring Service: Asia-Pacific, December 21, 2000.
7. "Sir Michael and group fly in to form government". PNG Post Courier. 30 July 2002.
8. "AIDS message too explicit - MP". PNG Post Courier. 3 October 2002.
9. "Condolences in for Wai". PNG Post Courier. 1 August 2003.
10. "AIDS message too explicit - MP". PNG Post Courier. 3 October 2002.
11. "Yama to muster numbers". PNG Post Courier. 18 May 2004.
12. "NATIONAL ELECTION 2007". PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
13. "Party revived after 9 years". PNG Post Courier. 3 March 2016.
14. "Naru heads party in 2017 polls". PNG Post Courier. 29 December 2015.
15. "Naru heads Christian Democratic Party". PNG Post Courier. 29 January 2016.