O’Neill Down Plays Moves for a Vote of no Confidence Against him by his Government

By GORETHY KENNETH

POLITICAL Party leaders and powerbrokers are reportedly conspiring to oust Prime Minister Peter O’Neill through a vote-of-no confidence on the eve of 2012 General Elections.


But last night a cool Mr O’Neill told Post-Courier

“ I am safe.”


This paper has been reliably told that influential people and powerbrokers in the Government were working towards cornering Mr O’Neill, to have their own way, extend Parliament, defer elections and stick to the six months deferral motion passed recently, therefore removing him as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the country.
 The powerbrokers, very influential as well, are reportedly strategising to move the motion when Parliament sits next Tuesday, three days before the issue of writs.
 But Prime Minister Peter O’Neill yesterday said that he was safe and that the motion could not be entertained as it would be unconstitutional. 
The Constitution provides that there shall be no votes of no confidence 18 months after an election and 18 months before the next election, giving an incumbent Prime Minister immunity from being ousted from office by a vote of no confidence. 
O’Neill said that that he stood firmly to support the PNG Electoral Commissioner Andrew Trawen to issue elections writs forthwith this Friday, May 18, 2012.
 In a recent interview O’Neill signalled that the push for a delay won’t be revisited when parliament sits next week. He said although the areas of concern over election were still an issue, the preparations were manageable.


“It is not perfect but I think it is enough to deliver an election and as I’ve said many times before, we are supportive of the Electoral Commissioner and the team. We have extended more resources to them (Electoral Commission) in terms of financing. We are also putting manpower resources from many of the other government departments to assist the Electoral Commissioner,” PM O’Neill said.
  

Last night PM’s Media advisor Susuve Laumaea on behalf of the PM said that the nation was ready to go to polls starting on May 18 and Mr O’Neill had been encouraging all his coalition partners to go to elections together and come back to deliver and run a stable government in July.


“There is no need for any group or vested political interest groups and people to extend Parliament longer than six months,” Mr Laumaea said last night.

” The Prime Minister is safe and wants to take the nation to election on May 18, the date already set by the Electoral Commissioner. Anyone else scheming to change the dates has no authority to do that..the only one with the powers is the Electoral Commissioner, and he has already done that by choosing May 18 and we will stick to that!


“The PM is right behind the Electoral Commissioner and everybody is ready…police, defense, CS and those with vested political interest to contest the leadership of Government should be warned that this will be deemed unconstitutional,” Mr Laumaea said.

“That is the position of Prime Minister O’Neill and that is also the position of the People’s National Congress (PNC) Party.”


Mr Laumaea said that PM O’Neill wants to come back and build on the policies, specifically the five pillars that they had spearheaded emphasizing on free health, free education, infrastructure, law and order and growing the economy.

via Post Courier online