The opposition faction of the National Alliance Party has joined the Marape-Basil Government.
Party leader, Patrick Pruaitch, in a media conference today says the move is for stability to allow the Marape led Government to complete its term before the 2022 General Elections.
The National Alliance party had two factions of its members during last November’s Vote of No Confidence against Prime Minister James Marape.
Flanked by the Government faction of the National Alliance Party members, party leader Patrick Pruaitch says the party is intact after last November’s vote of no confidence.
Pruaitch along with a majority of the NA members broke away from the Marape led Government last year after disagreements over the closure of the Porgera Mine and other key policies of the Government. Last week the Government announced it will work with Barrick to reopen Porgera.
Going into the elections he says the move is about stability in the Government as the party intends to support Prime Minister James Marape in his final term in office before the general elections.
Pruaitch also withdrew his nomination as the alternate prime minister if a vote of no confidence motion was to be entertained in this month’s parliament sitting.
The total number of National Alliance Party members in Government is 11.
Meanwhile, Opposition Leader, Belden Namah has welcomed the decision by National Alliance Party Leader, Patrick Pruaitch to withdraw his name as the Opposition’s candidate for the post of Prime Minister in a motion of Vote of No Confidence that is already before parliament.
In a statement released this afternoon, the Opposition Leader said the Opposition will name a new candidate to replace Mr Pruaitch.
It will then be up to the parliament to deliberate on and deal with the motion.
Namah said the motion is live and must be dealt with by members of parliament in the coming parliament sitting.
The Opposition Leader alluded the need for a Vote of No Confidence on the crippling economy and its long term effects.
He said all members of parliament have a duty to correct this trend before it is too late.
The Opposition Leader concluded that as a responsible Opposition, they will push through the motion of Vote of No Confidence and the court case on the motion of Vote of No Confidence and Constitutionality of the 2021 Budget.
