Leader Peter O'Neill National Parliament 54 / 111 | Founded 1993 | |
The People's National Congress is a political party in Papua New Guinea. Its former leader Bill Skate served as prime minister from 1997 to 1999 and as speaker of Parliament from 2002 to 2004. Skate died in 2006 and the party is now led by Peter O'Neill. PNC originated from the National Capital District where former leader (late Bill Skate) was the Governor of NCD and the Parliamentary Member.
History
The party was founded in 1993. It merged with the Christian Country Party and a number of smaller parties in April 1998 to form the PNG First Party, but split in June 1999 into a revived People's National Congress and a revived National Party.
At the National General elections of 2002, the party won 2 of 109 seats. At the 2007 election, the party won 4 seats. It became a member of the coalition government led by Michael Somare's National Alliance, and received two cabinet positions.
Following that on or about August 2, 2011, nine years after holding power and ruling PNG, the National Alliance coalition government led by Sir Micheal Thomas Somare was toppled by the PNC Party led, Peter O'Neill coalition with Belden Namah PNG Party Leader, and Parliament Speaker Jeffery Nape, who masterminded an unprecedented move and called for the sacking of the Prime Minister Sir Micheal Somare and the re-election of a new Prime Minister. Peter O'Neill was thereafter elected Prime Minister on technicalities of the PNG Constitution. This resulted in a political impasse between the O'Neill-Namah Led coalition majority and the Somare led-minority. The nation underwent some very trying moments and held its breath as one crisis after another unfolded and continued infighting and political maneuvering and countless court actions piled up against the two political groups. The police force was divided, and the defense force was divided and there was an event of a possible military coup and mutiny, followed by a police mutiny and public demonstrations funded by the various interest parties, while all along the clock ticked to a count down to the looming National General Elections for 2012. The Party won 27 seats and was invited by the Governor General through its Public Officer (Secretary General) Jonathan. O'ata on August 1, 2012, to form Government, hence the 9th Parliament was formed and Peter O'Neill was once again elected Prime Minister proper through the mastering of more candidates and been the largest political party with more members to win the national general elections of 2012. PNC Party however in the 9th Parliament did not assume its relations with the PNG Party led by Belden Namaha and was forced to consolidate its numbers with its political rivals who were none other than the National Alliance led by Sir Micheal Somare, the Peoples Progress Party, led by Sir Julius Chan, former Prime Minister, the Peoples Democratic Movement, led by former Prime Minister Paias Wingti. The Opposition of the 9th Parliament is now led by Belden Namah and 11 MPs. (Citations for the above can be viewed in the two dailies, Post Couriers and the National Newspapers from and in between the periods of August 2011, June 2012, as the two dailies continuously reported on a daily basis on the latest developments regarding the political impasse).
PNC Party Led by Party Leader, Peter O'Neill and Deputy Party Leader Job Pomat Manus Open MP, fared very well in the National General Elections of 2012 with its free education and free health policy platform and won 25 seats nationwide. In the 9th Parliament PNC holds 12 Ministries as well as the Deputy Speaker position and the Prime Minister post, held by Peter O'Neill the PNC Party Leader. Unfortunately for Job Pomat, he lost his Manus Open seat to another contender, and was subsequently replaced as Deputy Party Leader by Mao Zeming MP for Tewa Siassi Open.
PNC Pre-Election Part Officials and Executives included, Simon Korua (President), Garret Kising (Vice President), and Jonathan O'ata (Secretary General), all were elected in the PNC National Congress held in Goroka Late February 2012 and early April 2012, which was fully attended by many interested public participants and formally registered members numbering close to 5,000 people. The current Registrar of Political Parties, Dr Gelu, was present and accompanied by Dr David Kavanamur (Advisor and former Chairman of Government Task Force) among the many dignitaries that accompanied the PNG Party Leader Hon Peter O'Neill, who was then widely recognized as the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea.
The party had 52 members in the 111-seat National Parliament of Papua New Guinea as of November 2016.