A no-confidence vote against Papua New Guinea’s prime minister James Marape was defeated on Thursday, overriding worries about growing tribal warfare, widespread poverty, and the country’s economic woes.
Before the long-awaited vote that has put Marape under strain since the beginning of the year, loud discussions broke out throughout the nation’s parliament.
Marape secured his position until parliament reconvenes for budget talks in November by defeating his former finance minister Rainbo Paita by a margin of 75 votes to 32.
He urged the chamber to “not waste any more time” and accused the unhappy legislators of engaging in a time-consuming political spectacle.
“We have squandered months to politicking, precious time we could have spent improving the lives of our people,” he said after the vote.
“The toxicity that is involved in this divisive politics must somehow be put to rest.”
Pacific countries like Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea, which are usually run by clumsy coalitions with constantly changing alliances, frequently have these kinds of ballots.
Numerous global corporations have expressed interest in investing in Papua New Guinea due to its enormous supplies of natural gas, wood, copper, nickel, and gold.
However, little more than 10% of dwellings have power, and one in four individuals live in poverty.
There are areas of the nation where tribal warfare is perpetuated on a tit-for-tat basis.
At least 26 people, including 16 children, were slain in the most recent uptick in July when three villages in the East Sepik region were set on fire.
Pope Francis recently visited Papua New Guinea, bringing large crowds to the city Port Moresby and stopping at a secluded bush settlement in the north of the country.
Pope Francis encouraged Papua New Guinea to “stop the spiral” of tribal warfare that has killed incalculable numbers of people and uprooted tens of thousands more.
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