Dede Sophie

As PNG is halfway through the National Elections, the burning question is: Who will form the next government? In the last three years, it was the Pangu Pati, and prior to that, People’s National Congress.  The Marape-led Pangu Pati seems to have backed many favourite candidates, in the country’s 2022 National Elections, as political parties hope to get the numbers to be invited by the Governor-General to form the next government in the 11th Parliament. Caretaker Prime Minister of the 10th Parliament, James Marape, is already re-elected, and declared a fourth time as Tari-Pori MP.  According to data collected by the PNG Electoral Commission, in the Open and Regional Elections, the Pangu Pati leads in just the preferential counting alone, with the exception of Tari-Pori.  Interestingly, many more Independent candidates have gotten more votes, to sit comfortably in the top three of most counting, then followed by the United Labor Party, then O’Neill led People’s National Congress Party, a

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape, has welcomed the successful outcomes of the 29th Australia – P-N-G Ministerial Forum, held in Canberra, last week.   That was the first in-person forum since 2019.  Mr Marape in a statement said one of the most significant outcomes is the breakthrough in the discussions of visa arrangements, which will see at least 75 percent of completed visitor visa applications will be processed within 14 days, with in-country visa processing in P-N-G.  He says this expands opportunities for Papua New Guineans to enter the Australian Labour market, including increasing training and skilled labour under the new Australian Pacific Engagement Visa.  Mr Marape also thanked the P-N-G team led by Foreign Minister, Justin Tkatckenko, for a fruitful meeting, which will be mutually beneficial for both countries.  NBC News / PNG Today Also read  Helicopter crash lands in PNG’s Enga Province PNG – Australia VISA issue a breakthrough PNG Police Chief Manning highli