SIR MICHAEL THOMAS SOMARE
b. April 9, 1936
MICHAEL SOMARE
as Prime Minister of
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Sir Michael Somare and Peter O'Neill both claim to be the current Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, a post Sir Michael first held in 1975, until 1980; from 1982-1985; and from 2002 to 2011, when he did or did not resign for reasons of ill health.
Peter O'Neill seems to have the advantage of 'possession being nine-tenths of the law.' Sir Michael left the country for his medical treatment, and the parliament declared the prime ministership vacant and elected Mr. O'Neill. The civil service is reported also to be on Mr. O'Neill's side. There was an attempt at a military coup in January of this year; it failed. The Supreme Court had ruled in December 2011 that Sir Michael was to be reinstated; Mr./Prime Minister O'Neill "refused to step down." New elections were scheduled for this June, and the difficulty presumably to be resolved. Four days ago, April 5, the parliament voted to delay the elections. The Prime Minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, said that she was "disappointed and concerned," and was told that Australia "must not intrude."
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