Papua New Guinea has a new Prime Minister, James Marape, and a caretaker cabinet in a new coalition government fronted by the Pangu Party. Peter O’Neill’s People’s National Congress party will remain a partner in the new government.

Parliament voting overwhelmingly for James Marape this morning.

James Marape was this morning elected PNG’s Prime Minister after the resignation yesterday of Peter O’Neill, who had led PNG since 2011.

James Marape MP

Marape, whose resignation as Finance Minister back in April was catalyst for Opposition moves against Peter O’Neill, is the member for the Tari-Pori Open electorate in Hela Province, representing the People’s National Congress Party.

He won the vote in Parliament this morning by an overwhelming majority of MPs over the other nominee, Sir Mekere Morauta, 101 votes to 8. He is the eighth man to be elected Prime Minister since PNG’s independence in 1975.

After being sworn in by PNG’s Governor-General, Marape told a media conference that he would be part of the Pangu Party, which would lead a coalition that included the People’s National Congress, the party of former Prime Minister, Peter O’Neill.

‘I don’t have all the answers. I am just one man. But I will do my best to mobilise talent,’ he said.

He said he expected to make ministerial appointments quickly, saying he expected ‘a few more visits tomorrow’ to Government House.

Responding to a question regarding the recently-signed gas agreement for the Total-led Papua LNG project, which he had previously criticised, he said ‘we are not here to break legally-binding agreements.’

Marape gave his maiden address to Parliament last week and outlined his aspirations for the country.

Caretaker cabinet

James Marape – Prime Minister, Public Service and Public Enterprises and State Investments

Solan Mirisim – Foreign Affairs, Defence, Commerce and Industry, Civil Aviation, Fisheries and Forest

Richard Maru – Finance, Petroleum and Energy, Inter-Government Relations and Community Development

Sam Basil – National Planning, Health, Housing, Communication and Information Technology and Higher Education

Johnson Tuke – Mining, Transport, Culture and Tourism, Correctional Services and Environment, Conservation and Climate Change

Steven Davis – Justice and Attorney General, Labour and Industrial Relations, Agriculture and livestock and Lands and Physical Planning

Michael Nali – Works, Bougainville Affairs and Immigration and Border Security

Charles Abel – Treasury, Education, Police