Ten MPs shift parties

TEN MPs have moved from their parties over the last month, says acting Registrar of the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission (IPPCC) Emmanuel Pok.
Pok confirmed that from March to just before the first scheduled issue of writs, nine had moved to Papua and Niugini Union (Pangu) Pati, with a member each from the PNG National party, PNG Country party and the People’s National Congress party and six independent members.
The other one rounding up the group was former Minister for Environment, Conservation and Climate Change Wera Mori, who resigned from Pangu, moving to lead PNG Country Party.
Pok noted that the IPPC often received documents requesting a change of party from an MP, months after they were actually dated.
As recently revealed by an IPPCC official, they had a list of seven from the previous month alone which meant that the two most recent moves came within last week.
“There could be a number of reasons why they arrive at the IPPCC when they do, we don’t know why but it’s confirmed that in the last month, 10 MPs have moved political parties,” Pok said.