29/10/2025
News: Opposition Files VONC Motion, Names O’Neill as Alternate PM
By PNG Online News | October 29, 2025
PAPUA New Guinea’s political scene has been thrown into fresh uncertainty after the Opposition today formally lodged a Vote of No Confidence (VONC) motion against the government, naming former Prime Minister Peter O’Neill as its nominee for Alternate Prime Minister.
The motion, submitted to Parliament this afternoon, reportedly bears the signatures of four government MPs who have defected to the Opposition, signalling potential cracks within Prime Minister James Marape’s ruling coalition.
The timing of the move is crucial, coming just ahead of the expiry of the government’s 18-month grace period, which shields the Prime Minister from such challenges.
Parliamentary sources have confirmed the motion was filed before the deadline, making it constitutionally valid.
Meanwhile, political attention now turns to the Supreme Court, where a five-man bench is scheduled to deliver its ruling tomorrow morning on a constitutional reference filed by East Sepik Governor Allan Bird.
The reference seeks clarification on Section 145 of the Constitution, which governs the procedure for votes of no confidence.
According to parliamentary procedure, Speaker Job Pomat will formally announce the receipt of the motion when Parliament sits tomorrow.
The Private Business Committee (PBC) will then meet at lunchtime to assess whether the motion meets all procedural and constitutional requirements.
If the PBC clears the motion, it will take precedence over all other parliamentary business, paving the way for debate and a potential vote in the coming days.
Political observers say tomorrow’s court ruling and the PBC’s decision will be pivotal in determining whether the motion proceeds to the floor, setting the stage for what could be one of the most consequential political showdowns of the current parliamentary term.
