Opposition to submit no-confidence motion

By REBECCA KUKU
THE Opposition is expected to submit to the Speaker a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Peter O’Neill today, according to Opposition Leader Patrick Pruaitch.
It follows the appointment to the Private Business Committee yesterday of five MPs from the Opposition camp led by Hela Governor Philip Undialu. They will review the motion today and if it is in order, it will be put on the notice paper tomorrow. It then takes a week before it is moved in Parliament.
“We now have members of the alternative government in the committee, and we have the numbers as well. So if the prime minister does not resign, then we will go through with the vote of no-confidence,” Pruaitch said.
Yesterday, there were 67 members on the Opposition side and 42 on the Government benches.
Parliament resumes at 10am today. The committee usually meets around 11.45 am.
The Opposition had indicated earlier that it would elect a new speaker as well.
But when Pruaitch moved a motion on this in Parliament yesterday, Speaker Job Pomat refused to entertain the motion.
Sinasina-Yongmugl MP Kerenga Kua said the same powers that parliament used to appoint the Speaker could also be used to vote him out.
Parliament will resume today at 10am.