NA backs PM O'Neill government

Statement by NA Party leader Patrick Pruitch 

The Peoples National Congress (PNC) Party won 27 seats against other Political Parties in the 2012 National Elections. It was invited to form government according to the laws of the country. PNC extended the invitation to National Alliance Party with only 7 members to be part of the New Government. NA accepted the invitation and committed itself to serve in Government under the leadership of PNC Party for the full term in office.

The Parliamentary Wing of the NA Party met in Alotau on Tuesday evening and reconfirmed that it shall vote against the opposition sponsored motion of no confidence on the Prime Minister currently before the National Parliament. The Party shall continue to do its part as part of the coalition government to manage the affairs of the country under the leadership provided by the PNC party, through to the end of the 5 year term.

When NA was the leading Political Party from 2002 to 2012, it received unwavering support from members of the coalition until the Party itself imploded which triggered off events of 2010 to 2012. The government under NA experienced positive management of the country through period of stability and certainty. NA desires governments to operate under such conditions for the full term of office.

The decision of the Supreme Court of 7th of July 2010 made unconstitutional the provision of the Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates that requires MPs to vote according to the party resolution in the matter of a vote of no confidence. But this does not mean that individual can conduct themselves in any way that would impact against the collective interest of the party.

The leadership of the National Alliance Party was invited to attend a meeting with the opposition on the morning of Monday 18th July 2016. The leadership turned down the invitation. Given the on-going efforts by the political groupings to amass numbers and take advantage of every opportunity that avails itself, the leadership did not wish to be placed in a position that would question its commitment to the coalition government.

Any decision by an individual member of the party to deviate from this collective position is his own and it does not in any way represent the position of the Party. The Leader of the Parliamentary Wing of the National Alliance Party is Hon. Patrick Pruaitch, Member for Aitape-Lumi. The Parliamentary Leader has the full support of the Members. He makes the call after full consultation with the Members and Party Executives as is the tradition of the Party.