THE ruling Papua and New Guinea Union Party (Pangu Pati) recently held its 28th national convention in Port Moresby, focusing on strengthening its internal structure and leadership rules.
Prime Minister and Pangu Pati leader James Marape clarified that the convention was not about candidate selection for General Election 2027 (GE27), but about reviewing the party’s performance, policies and structures while preparing the next generation of leaders.
Marape was also unanimously retained as the party’s parliamentary leader for a second term, after delegates and representatives from all 21 provinces and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville backed his seven-year leadership in Government.
He said that Pangu Pati, founded on June 13, 1967, was one of the main political parties that laid the foundation of the country’s journey toward independence and still remains relevant today.
Regardless of what others may say, that fact remains true and cannot be disputed, along with the likes of People’s Progress Party, United Party, National Party, Melanesian Alliance Party, People’s Democratic Movement Party and People’s Action Party.
Marape, the four-term Tari-Pori MP added: “Political parties must not be personalised as it does not belong to one person.
“We owe it to the memories and the work of those who came before us to get it right and to pass on our party so it remains viable and usable by generations of Papua New Guineans who will come after us.
“The party must regenerate and rejuvenate beyond the present status quo.”
This should also serve as a reminder to the 44 political parties currently registered in the country.
In May, Political Parties Registrar Emmanuel Pok urged all the registered political parties to become institutions through their respective constitutions and policies.
He said that political parties, governed by the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (Olippac), were important to maintain the current parliamentary democracy of the country.
“Political parties must have a structure with a president, treasurer, general-secretary that must be working for the party,” Pok said.
“You all must review your party constitutions as it will become sub-legislation to the Olippac.
“We have a very fluid political party system because you have not strengthened your constitutions.
“Political parties must be institutionalised so they can promote political stability, support consistent governance and strengthen the current parliamentary system.”
A key component of this institutionalisation process was made even stronger with the enactment of the Olippac (Amendment) of 2024, which also represented a significant milestone for the Registry of Political Parties and the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission after 15 years of anticipation.
The 11th Parliament unanimously passed the revised Olippac with an 83-0 vote on March 24 this year with the following amendments:
- RESIGNATION of party executives to contest elections;
- HOLDING of party conventions;
- REGISTRATION process of political parties;
- MEMBERSHIP of political parties;
- PENALTIES for non-compliance;
- NOMINATION of candidates, including women candidates (10 per cent women’s representation quota); and,
- GROUNDS for deregistration of political parties.
Registry of Political Parties director (policy and legal) Patrick Kaiku highlighted that the key provisions of the new law that would help institutionalise political parties, included the:
- LEGAL status of a registered political party (Section 25);
- REGISTERED office (Section 26);
- MEMBERSHIP of political parties (Section 27);
- EXECUTIVE officer of political parties (Section 28);
- PARLIAMENTARY leader (Section 29);
- SALARIES and allowances of executive officers (Section 30);
- KEY performance indicators (Section 31);
- PUBLIC officer (Section 32);
- REQUIREMENT of political party to register (Section 33);
- QUALIFICATIONS for registration (Section 34); and,
- CONSTITUTION of a political party (Section 35).
Kaiku said: “The revised Olippac seeks to go beyond the personality nature of political parties and help parties become institutions.
“We are learning from the experience of the Olippac 2003 to now make political parties permanent institutions.”
Therefore, to become institutions that withstand the test of time should be the end goal for any political party in the country and not only come alive in the days leading up to an election.
Political parties must become well-established organisations that are able to contribute to national development by way of providing pathways for the people to progress.
