In light of a looming Vote of No Confidence (VONC), the prime minister has indicated that he is confident that the number of Members of Parliament in his coalition government will withstand it, should it go through.
Prime Minister (PM) James Marape, after arriving in Port Moresby today from his trip to Australia, said in a press conference that the government number of members is still above the absolute majority level.
“My Pangu Pati has a caucus number of 53 and growing and my senior coalition partners maintain full support,” said the PM.
Marape also went on to say that the allegations made against him in the Paraka case and the Connect PNG program, are merely attacks from his political opponents and designed to destabilize the government, but he has a lot of confidence in his coalition members to hold the fort.
“I am blessed to have a strong solid caucus who know inside of me, not the outside of me. The men I have beside me are not men who could be easily bought or sold on a market place of politics.”
However, Marape did mention that if any member who feel that he is not qualified to be their prime minister, have every right to resign and move on to the opposition benches.
So far, 11 Members of Parliament have resigned from the government and moved over to the other side of the house, citing corruption in the Marape- Rosso Administration.