Justin Tkatchenko, the Foreign Minister of Papua New Guinea, resigned on Friday following criticism of his state-funded travel to King Charles III’s coronation and for labeling his critics “primitive animals.”
Earlier this week, a dazzling TikTok video of the trip shared by Tkatchenko’s daughter, who accompanied him to London, enraged citizens of the Pacific island, where the World Bank estimates that 40% of the population lives in poverty.
Savannah Tkatchenko documented her “elite” visit to premium designer stores in Singapore and her supper in the “stunning” first-class lounge on her trip to London in the since-deleted video.
But Tkatchenko responded to his critics by labelling them “primitive animals” with “nothing better to do,” intensifying the furore and fuelling calls for his resignation.
“I have stood aside as the Foreign Minister after consulting the Prime Minister,” the Australian-born politician said in a statement on Friday.
“I want to make sure the recent events do not interfere with the Official Visits and Summits we are going to have with all the World Leaders in the coming weeks.”
He added that he would make certain that “misinformation” and “lies” were rectified throughout the tour.
Foreign Minister James Marape would be replaced by Prime Minister James Marape. Tkatchenko hit out at his detractors in an interview with Australia’s national television on Wednesday.
“My daughter now is totally devastated. She is traumatised by some of the most ridiculous and useless comments that I’ve seen,” he told the ABC.
Marape acknowledged the minister had stepped aside from his role in the face of “public uproar” over the video and a “poor choice of words”.
“I want to commend the Minister for putting the interest of the country ahead of his own,” Marape said in a statement.
The issue occurs just ten days before US Vice President Joe Biden is scheduled to arrive in Port Moresby for a conference with Pacific leaders.
