1 Aug 2011

More ructions in PNG's National Alliance

7:34 pm on 1 August 2011

Papua New Guinea's ruling National Alliance, or NA, has reportedly confirmed Kandep MP Don Polye as the deputy leader of the party's Highlands region.

The newspaper, The National, reports that the confirmation came at a meeting in Goroka, which did not have a quorum.

This meeting, which had the backing of the party's executive, chose to ignore the purported election to the Highlands position of Sam Abal, the acting prime minister and Wabag MP, by 11 NA parliamentarians two weeks ago.

That Port Moresby vote occurred shortly after the NA executive suspended Mr Abal from the party for two weeks.

The executive maintains that election was not conducted correctly according to the NA constitution and that Mr Polye is the deputy leader of the Highlands bloc, and that Mr Abal remains suspended.