Nine new political parties were registered on Friday in Papua New Guinea - the highest number ever at any one time.
Photo: RNZI
The National newspaper reported the new parties are the Paradise Kingdom Party, the PNG First Party, the Model Nation Party, the Trust PNG Party, the PNG Youths Party, the Nations Interest Party, the PNG Socialist Party, the Wantoks in Godly Services Party and the Papua New Guinea Human Rights Party.
Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission chairperson Dr Orovu Sepoe said the essence of political parties is they must be linked to the needs and aspirations of the people.
Dr Sepoe encouraged the members of the new parties to recognise that upholding democratic principles and values should be uttermost in their minds.
The new party officials will join the Registry of Political Parties in two weeks to talk about their policies for the 2017 general elections.
Two other new parties, the Grassroots United Front and the PNG One Nation Party will join the nine which registered on Friday.