People's Party (Papua New Guinea)

The People's Party is a political party in Papua New Guinea.

People's Party
Leader	Peter Ipatas[1]
President	Douglas Ivarato [1]
Secretary	Willie Palme [1]
Founder	Peter Ipatas
Founded	2006
National Parliament	4 / 118
Website
peoplespartypng.com
Politics of Papua New Guinea Political parties Elections

It was founded in 2006 by Peter Ipatas, governor of Enga Province, following his resignation from the Papua New Guinea Party.^[2][3] The party won three seats at the 2007 election: Ipatas, Sailon Beseo (Kainantu Open) and Samson Kuli (Usino-Bundi).^[4][5] The party then supported Michael Somare for Prime Minister.^[6] It gained an additional MP in August 2010, when newly elected Wewak Open MP Dr Moses Manwau joined the party.^[7] During the attempts to topple Somare's government in his absence in 2011, the party strongly supported his designated Acting Prime Minister, Sam Abal.^[8]

The People's Party won six seats at the 2012 election: Ipatas, John Pundari (Kompiam-Ambum Open), Robert Ganim (Wabag Open), Davis Steven (Esa'Ala Open), Mogerema Sigo Wei (Karimui-Nomane Open) and Westly Nukundi (Dei Open), while Kuli lost his seat.^[9][10] It switched its support to the government of Peter O'Neill after the election.^[11] The party "unequivocally supported" an extension of the "grace period" banning no-confidence votes from 18 months to 30 months.^[12]

In January 2013, the party announced a merger with the governing People's National Congress.^[13] However, later that month, the Registrar of the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission stated that the requirements of the Organic Law on Political Parties & Candidates had not yet been met, and that they were "still two different parties".^[14] The parties remain closely linked; however, while some sources have stated that they have merged, the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission still lists the two as separate parties, and it remains separately registered for the 2017 election.^[15][16]

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. "Registrar stresses strict conditions for Papua New Guinea political parties". 4 October 2006. The National. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
3. "Hon. Peter Ipatas, MP". National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
4. "Small parties fared well in elections". PNG Post-Courier. 2 August 2007.
5. "NATIONAL ELECTION 2007". PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 3 January 2017.
6. "Final countdown". PNG Post-Courier. 13 August 2007.
7. "Wewak MP places trust in Ipatas party". PNG Post-Courier. 11 August 2010.
8. "Ipatas: Let Abal lead". PNG Post-Courier. 30 June 2011.
9. "NATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2012". PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 15 August 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
10. "Madang Police take control of Usino/Bundi situation during elections". PNG Post-Courier. 30 July 2012.
11. "O'Neill's address to PNG as the 9th Prime Minister". PNG Post-Courier. 7 August 2012.
12. "MP supports grace period extension". PNG Post Courier. 13 November 2012.
13. "PM O'Neill, Ipatas merge parties". PACNEWS. 14 January 2013.
14. "Ruling parties yet to register merge". PNG Post-Courier. 23 January 2013.
15. "PNC intact, certain of lead". PNG Post-Courier. 20 October 2015.
16. "Total number of parties 34: Gelu". The National. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.