Top 3 vie for post

By REBECCA KUKU - The National

THE 67 MPs in the Opposition are expected to today name a prime minister from the three leaders of the biggest parties in camp.
They continued their “lockdown” yesterday at the Laguna camp as they prepared for Parliament which resumes this afternoon, after being joined by four more MPs from the Government camp, including three Cabinet ministers.
Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch of the National Alliance (14 MPs), James Marape of Pangu (21 MPs), and William Duma of the United Resource Party (nine MPs) were in a closed-door meeting late yesterday to decide on who should be the nominee.
Hela Governor Philip Undialu speaking on their behalf said the three would decide among themselves who the nominee for prime minister should be.
“We have left that (leadership issue) with our three leaders Patrick Pruaitch, William Duma and James Marape to discuss,” he said.
“Later tonight (yesterday) or tomorrow (today) we will know who will be our nominee (for prime minister).”
Undialu said they were not bothered by “the desperate tactics” employed by the Government camp.
“The fact of the matter is no one is returning to Government. The train has left and late passengers have no choice.
“Either they form a good Opposition or join the queue as backbenchers.”
Undialu said the 67 MPs spent yesterday discussing alternative policies for the nation.
The four who joined yesterday were Kiriwina-Goodenough MP Douglas Tomuriesa, Talasea MP Francis Maneka, Moresby North-East MP John Kaupa and Jimi MP Wake Goi.
Abau MP Sir Puka Temu said an earlier plan to walk to Parliament today from their camp had been cancelled.
Meanwhile, Pruaitch had suggested earlier yesterday that the Opposition MPs conduct a secret ballot to select a coalition leader to replace Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
“Among our group are several well-qualified, potential candidates for the position of prime minister,” he said.
“They have honed their professional and cultural leadership skills and have the capacity to heal recent divisions and forge a brighter future for our people.”
He said the 67 MPs should all have a chance to vote for who they felt was the best candidate to keep the coalition united.
“The best and most democratic way of choosing the new Prime Minister would be through a secret ballot where all Members of Parliament in this group can vote for who they believe should be the country’s new consensus leader,” he said.

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