Governor General Sir Michael Ogio swore in Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare as Prime Minister, earlier this morning. Sir Michael was sworn in after a Supreme Court ruling on Monday 12th of December that declared him as the legitimate Prime Minister.
However on the same day, Parliament amended sections of the Prime Minister and NEC Act, retrospectively disqualifying Sir Michael from Office as well as legalizing the election of Peter O’Neil as Prime Minister. Parliament also voted 71-0 to reaffirm O’Neil’s primacy following the Supreme Court’s decision.
Yesterday, O’Neil and his Ministers blocked the entrance to the Governor General’s residence in an attempt to prevent Somare from being sworn into Office. Today however as Parliament was in session, news filthered through Parliament that the Governor General had sworn in Somare.
Parliament has now summoned the Governor General to appear before it and explain he’s actions. The Governor General has also been ordered by Parliament to swear in Peter O’Neil as the Prime Minister.
Speaking in Parliament a few hours ago, Speaker Jeffrey Nape invited the Public to attend the swearing in ceremony at Parliament. Today Parliament expresses the independence of Papua New Guinea whereby the representative of the Queen of England has to enter the Melanesian Hausman and swear in the Chief of the People. Usually, the Prime Minister is elected in Parliament but has to make a long trip across the city to be sworn in at Government House. Today’s swearing in at Parliament should set precedence and mark a Papua New Guinean tradition that expresses the Power of the People through its Parliament.
This morning’s Parliament session saw attacks on the Judiciary and a passionate call by Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah, for Papua New Guineans to rise up against tyranny. Mr. Namah also described Sir Michael as the Mugabe of the South Pacific.
The nation watches for the showdown at 2 PM today. Many MPs in Parliament have openly called for the sacking of the Governor General. Sir Julius Chan has called on Sir Michael to give up his claim to power. Speaker Jeffrey Nape has stated that Sir Michael is no longer a member of Parliament per Parliaments decision last Friday, and that he would be thrown out of the chamber of Parliament should he trespass into Parliament.
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