Papua New Guinea's parliament has been adjourned until Wednesday amid an intensifying power struggle.
Papua New Guinea. Photo: RNZI
The Speaker Job Pomat said this would allow parliament to seek a legal decision by the Supreme Court on the position of the Member for Kerowahgi.
The MP, Bari Palma, has been fighting bankruptcy in court, casting doubt over his position as a member.
The Opposition, which planned to remove Prime Minister James Marape in this sitting, argued Palma was still a member.
It argued that a recent court order set aside a previous order confirming the MP as insolvent and allowed Palma to continue as a member.
This morning's parliament session descended into a yelling match among MPs, with Opposition members upset that the Speaker wouldn't recognise Palma.
Pomat then adjourned the house for two days.
If the court decides that Palma is still an MP, it could give the opposition a slim majority as it seeks to bring a motion of no confidence against Marape.
PNG Prime Minister James Marape addresses media regarding a Supreme Court ruling relating to parliament. 9 December, 2020. Photo: PNG PM Media
Adjournments quashed
The Supreme Court last week ordered today's parliament sitting after quashing the government's recent adjournment of parliament until April.
The court ruled that Speaker Job Pomat's move to overturn an earlier adjournment effected by the Opposition and call a sitting last month, without the Opposition present, was unconstitutional.
If a motion of no confidence is tabled this week, Marape, who last month appeared to have lost his majority, could face an ensuing confidence vote later this month.
Opposition Leader, Belden Namah, said his group was ready to form a government, although the parliament appeared evenly split.
But the government was under pressure to pass the 2021 budget, as its attempt to expedite it last month during the sitting now ruled unconstitutional, had been rendered invalid.
Papua New Guinea MP Belden Namah Photo: RNZ / Alex Smith
Meanwhile, the government filed a slip rule application challenging the Supreme Court decision to have parliament recalled today.
The Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Pila Niningi, said his lawyers believed the court had "glaringly slipped in its decision".
He said they filed an application to have the orders of the Supreme Court stayed pending the outcome.
However the James Marape-led government attended the brief sitting anyway.