Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

The prime minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (Tok Pisin: Prai Minista bilong Papua Niugini) 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. The prime minister serves as the head of his party, the head of the coalition government, and the chairman of the National Executive Council.

Prime Minister of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea
Praim Minista bilong Papua Niugini (Tok Pisin)
Emblem of Papua New Guinea
Flag of Papua New Guinea
Incumbent James Marape since 30 May 2019
Style	The Honourable
Status	Head of Government
Abbreviation	PM
Member of	Parliament Cabinet
Seat	Port Moresby
Appointer	Governor-General
Term length	At the Governor-General's pleasure
Precursor	Chief Minister of Papua and New Guinea
Inaugural holder	Michael Somare
Formation	16 September 1975
Deputy	Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
Salary	PGK346,037/US$ 97,201 annually (2015)[a][1]
Website	https://pmnec.gov.pg/

History

The office of Prime Minister was preceded by the Chief Minister.

2011–2012 constitutional crisis

Main article: 2011–2012 Papua New Guinean constitutional crisis

From December 2011, 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 eventually supported O'Neill as Prime Minister on 3 August 2012, thus ending the constitutional crisis.

Department of the Prime Minister

The Department of the Prime Minister has the task of providing administrative services to the restoration exercise as well as advising the Prime Minister and other government leaders. After a July 1995 cabinet reshuffle by Julius Chan, functions of the department were expanded.^[2]

Office

The office of the prime minister and other key government offices were initially located in Konedobu before being relocated to Waigani shortly after independence in 1975. Since April 2024, the Prime Minister's Office has been located at the newly-constructed Melanesia Haus, located opposite the main entrance to the National Parliament House.^[3][4]

List of prime ministers of Papua New Guinea (1975–present)

Political parties

  Pangu Pati (Pangu)

  People's Progress Party (PPP)

  People's Democratic Movement (PDM)

  People's National Congress (PNC)

  National Alliance Party (NAP)

Status

  Denotes acting prime minister

No.	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Election	Term of office			Political party
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Michael Somare (1936–2021)	1977	16 September 1975	11 March 1980	4 years, 177 days	Pangu[5][6][7]
2		Sir Julius Chan (1939–2025)	—	11 March 1980	2 August 1982	2 years, 144 days	PPP[5][6]
(1)		Michael Somare (1936–2021)	1982	2 August 1982	21 November 1985	3 years, 111 days	Pangu[5][6][7]
3		Paias Wingti (born 1951)	1987	21 November 1985	4 July 1988	2 years, 226 days	PDM[5][6]
4		Sir Rabbie Namaliu (1947–2023)	—	4 July 1988	17 July 1992	4 years, 13 days	Pangu[5][6]
(3)		Paias Wingti (born 1951)	1992	17 July 1992	30 August 1994	2 years, 44 days	PDM[6]
(2)		Sir Julius Chan (1939–2025)	—	30 August 1994	27 March 1997	2 years, 209 days	PPP[6][7]
5		John Giheno (1949–2017)	—	27 March 1997	2 June 1997	67 days	PPP
(2)		Sir Julius Chan (1939–2025)	—	2 June 1997	22 July 1997	50 days	PPP[6][7]
6		Bill Skate (1953–2006)	1997	22 July 1997	14 July 1999	1 year, 357 days	PNC[6][7]
7		Sir Mekere Morauta (1946–2020)	—	14 July 1999	5 August 2002	3 years, 22 days	PDM[7]
(1)		Sir Michael Somare (1936–2021)	2002 2007	5 August 2002	4 April 2011	8 years, 362 days	NAP[5]
—		Sam Abal (born 1958) (acting)	—	13 December 2010	17 January 2011	35 days	NAP[5]
			—	4 April 2011	2 August 2011	120 days
8		Peter O'Neill (born 1965)	2012 2017	2 August 2011	29 May 2019	7 years, 300 days	PNC
9		James Marape (born 1971)	2022	30 May 2019	Incumbent	5 years, 358 days	Pangu

Timeline

This is a graphical lifespan timeline of prime ministers of Papua New Guinea. They are listed in order of office (Somare, Chan, and Wingti are shown in order of their first premierships).

See also

• Monarch of Papua New Guinea
• Governor-General of Papua New Guinea

Notes

1. Equivalent to AU$160,815, 15 January 2015