PM age limit set at 72

By JEFFREY ELAPA
PARLIAMENT yesterday passed law to say that a person over the age of 72 cannot be prime minister.
This effectively rules out current attempts by Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare to reclaim the top post from the majority Peter O’Neill house.
However, former prime minister Sir Julius Chan yesterday broke ranks with the government, saying the law was rushed, was wrong and was done in panic to derail due processes and the Constitution.
The amendment to the Prime Minister and National Executive Council Act – the second in as many weeks – was passed 61-3 votes. Those who opposed were (in the absence of the Somare faction) Sir Julius, Western Governor Dr Bob Danaya and Wewak MP Moses Manwau.
Sir Julius, who is New Ireland governor, condemned the government for the amendment, adding that it was not discussed among the governing coalition partners prior to its tabling and passage.
“It is a very wrong bill. You guys are panicking and that you are trying to derail the process and the Constitution,’’ he told parliament.
“None of you have proven to lead the country for a long time. You have just come in to rule yesterday.”
Sir Julius, whose People’s Progress Party is pro-O’Neill, reminded the government that there were procedures to follow when introducing such bills. 
He said the law should not judge whether one was fit to be or remain a prime minister when he or she reached the age of 72.
“I ask the prime minister to withdraw it and rethink or refer to the constitutional law as that will deprive the rights of the people,” he said.
“Who are you to judge them?”
He said young leaders must respect the fathers of this nation.
O’Neill, while introducing the bill, said after political events of the past week, parliament took the necessary step to provide a maximum age for a MP to hold the office of the prime minister – pursuant to section 142 of the Constitution.
He said the new section 6a of the Constitution limited the age of the prime minister, explaining that if a prime minister reached 72, he or she was no longer fit to hold office.
He said this was to give an opportunity to younger leaders to lead.
“This is not to stop a person to continue to be a member of parliament if he or she reaches the age of 72 and above. It means that a person that reaches the age of 72 should resign as prime minister but can continue as an ordinary leader,” O’Neill said.
He said a similar law would be made to the Public Service Management Act.
Last week, O’Neill used his superior numbers to make the first amendment to the
Prime Minister and National Executive Council Act to limit the granting of sick leave for a prime minister to only three months.