James Marape on PNG National Parliament on 15 February 2024. Photo: Screengrab / Loop PNG
The opposition group in Papua New Guinea's Parliament staged a walkout Thursday after a fiery exchange, amid ongoing political ruckus in the country.
The walkout happened after the acting speaker suspended standing orders and put forward a motion for a vote of confidence in Prime Minister James Marape.
The opposition, which is in the process of mounting a leadership challenge, objected and stormed out once it became clear the Acting Speaker Koni Iguan was going ahead with the vote.
The vote of confidence in the Prime Minister was passed (84-0) while opposition MPs were not in the House.
RNZ Pacific PNG correspondent Scott Waide called the move "simple psychological powerplay" as it has no bearing on the vote of no confidence lodged earlier this week by the opposition.
He said the vote of confidence caused confusion for some people watching Thursday's Parliament livestream.
Papua New Guinea parliament in session on 15 February 2024. Photo: Loop PNG / Screencapture
Iguan said the private business committee that was looking over the motion of no confidence in the Prime Minister has found one defect in their submission.
Iguan said the committee asked the opposition to correct one point.
He said they have since submitted "a new notice" for deliberation.
The Acting Speaker said the committee will consider the updated motion in its next meeting.
Later, the opposition returned to the chamber and debate continued on a bill proposing to amend the Constitution to declare Papua New Guinea a Christian country.
Papua New Guinea Acting Speaker Koni Iguan Photo: Loop PNG / Screencapture
Christian state
The bill proposing to make Papua New Guinea a Christian state was passed its first reading during the same session with an overwhelming majority voting in favour of the constitutional change.
This is just the first step in the process with a second vote expected to take place in around two months time and a third and final vote after that.
Waide said there has already been fierce pushback.
"The Catholic Bishops Conference has come out saying that this...the proposed changes to the Constitution are a bad dea," he said.
"And it's not wise to proceed not wise for public money to proceed with changes to the Constitution because it could create problems that we can't foresee at the moment."
Waide said this does not have anything to do with the upcoming visit by the Pope, rather it was something Marape had been pushing for.