Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
Coat of Arms of Papua New Guinea
Incumbent Peter O'Neill since 3 August 2011
Appointer	Michael Ogio
Term length	At the Governor-General's pleasure
Inaugural holder	Michael Somare
Formation	16 September 1975

The Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, is Papua New Guinea's head of government, consequent on being the leader of the party or coalition with majority support in the National Parliament.

2011–12 constitutional crisis

Amidst the 2011–12 constitutional crisis, the office was disputed between Peter O'Neill of the People's National Congress Party and Sir Michael Somare of the National Alliance Party; the latter supported O'Neill as Prime Minister on 3 August 2012, thus the constitutional crisis came to an end.

List of Prime Ministers of Papua New Guinea (1975–present)

№	Name (Birth–Death)	Tenure		Political Affiliation
		Took Office	Left Office
1	Michael Somare (1936–)	16 September 1975	11 March 1980	Pangu Party[1][2][3]
2	Sir Julius Chan (1939–)	11 March 1980	2 August 1982	People's Progress Party[1][2]
(1)	Michael Somare (1936–)	2 August 1982	21 November 1985	Pangu Party[1][2][3]
3	Paias Wingti (1951–)	21 November 1985	4 July 1988	People's Democratic Movement[1][2]
4	Sir Rabbie Namaliu (1947–)	4 July 1988	17 July 1992	Pangu Party[1][2]
(3)	Paias Wingti (1951–)	17 July 1992	30 August 1994	People's Democratic Movement[2]
(2)	Sir Julius Chan (1939–)	30 August 1994	27 March 1997	People's Progress Party[2][3]
—	John Giheno (1950–) Acting Prime Minister	27 March 1997	2 June 1997	People's Progress Party
(2)	Sir Julius Chan (1939–)	2 June 1997	22 July 1997	People's Progress Party[2][3]
5	Bill Skate (1953–2006)	22 July 1997	14 July 1999	People's National Congress Party[2][3]
6	Sir Mekere Morauta (1946–)	14 July 1999	5 August 2002	People's Democratic Movement[3]
(1)	Sir Michael Somare (1936–)	5 August 2002	2 August 2011 Disputed from 14 December 2011 to 3 August 2012	National Alliance Party[1]
—	Sam Abal Acting Prime Minister (Acting for Somare)	13 December 2010	17 January 2011	National Alliance Party[1]
		4 April 2011	2 August 2011
7	Peter O'Neill (1965–)	2 August 2011 Disputed to 3 August 2012	Incumbent	People's National Congress Party

References

1. "Background Note: Papua New Guinea". US State Department. April 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-14. External link in |publisher= (help)
2. Dorney, Sean (2001). Papua New Guinea: people, politics and history since 1975. ABC Books. ISBN 0-7333-0945-3.
3. May, R.J. (2001). State and society in Papua New Guinea: the first twenty five years. Crawford House Publishing. ISBN 1-86333-204-9.