The leader of Papua New Guinea's second biggest political party in parliament is refusing to sit in the opposition benches as directed by the ruling party.
Don Polye, who was recently sacked as Treasurer by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill, insists that his Triumph Heritage Empowerment party remains part of the coalition government.
The front facade of Papua New Guinea's parliament featuring recently removed anthropomorphic carved heads on the front lintel. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
Johnny Blades reports:
Don Polye has been waging a public war of words against Peter O'Neill's policies over recent weeks. Fed up with the dissent, the People's National Congress decided at its weekly caucus on Monday to have the Kandep MP moved to the opposition seats in parliament while his THE party is free to remain with government. However Mr Polye claims the PNC has no right to control where he or his party sits in parliament and is urging the Speaker to allocate him a seat in the middle benches, saying he will boycott parliament until this is done. Peter O'Neill's government is big enough to retain a majority even if THE MPs were to leave with their leader. But THE party sources say MPs fear losing access to funds for their constituencies if they are not in government.
