By Simon Eroro
WHO will take the top job after the writs are returned on July 27, 2012? This is the question everyone is asking in the lead up to May 18 when the writs are issued and when the country goes to the polls in June.
The country has had many good leaders over the years and many more are coming up. Today we hear there are already parties and their leaders vying for the top job! Everyone wants to be prime minister and it looks like no-one wants to be deputy prime minister. With already 46 political parties giving 46 options to the seven million people of PNG to choose from, the race is now on!
The country should know by Saturday which leader will be mandated to lead the National Alliance Party (NA) into the 2012 National Elections.
This is the leader who former Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare will be betting upon to win the election and form the next government and this leadership tussle is now locked between former treasurer Patrick Pruaitch and Regional MP for Madang and former Attorney-General Sir Arnold Amet. There are so far 11 political party leaders eyeing the Prime Minister’s post, including the person who will become the leader of NA.
The Prime Minister and leader of the Peoples National Congress Party (PNC) Peter O’Neill, is vying to retain the top job which he has occupied since August 2, 2011.
The Deputy Prime Minister and leader of PNG Party, the largest political party in the coalition government Belden Namah is another contender for the job. Mr Namah confirmed yesterday that PNG Party was prepared to form the next government. The leader of the T.H.E Party Don Polye is another contender for the country’s top post. He is a longest serving minister, and also served as deputy PM and on several occasions acted in the Prime Minister’s position.
Governor for Enga and leader of the Peoples Party Peter Ipatas recently asked his people to release him to try his luck at the top post. The Southern Highlands Province Governor and leader of the Peoples United Assembly Anderson Agiru is another contender should he win the 2012 elections.
Leader of United Resources Party William Duma who early this year tipped as contender is not backing down.
The candidate for West Sepik Regional and leader of Indigenous Peoples party John Tekwie is another person vying for the top job. While leader of the Melanesian Alliance Sam Akoitai, former secretary for National Planning and Monitoring Joseph Lelang leader of the Coalition for Reform Party and leader of Peoples Movement for Change Party Gary Juffa are outside contenders for the PM’s post.
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