The Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea ordered a recall of parliament on April 8, 2025, to debate a motion of no confidence on Monday. The court decided that parliament’s rejection of an earlier motion of no-confidence against the prime minister was unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court ruled that the parliament’s Private Business Committee’s decision to reject the motion of no confidence, acted on by Deputy Speaker Koni Iguan on November 27, 2024, was unconstitutional and breached Section 111 of the Constitution of Papua New Guinea, permitting MPs to introduce new bills and motions.
Iguan, as the acting Speaker, invoked Standing Order 165 in disallowing the motion filed by Chauve MP and Deputy Opposition Leader James Nomane. Standing Order 165 allows the Speaker to “disallow any motion or amendment that is the same in substance as any question that, during the previous 12 months, has been resolved.” Filing an application in the Supreme Court under section 18(1) of the Constitution, Nomane sought to determine whether the Committee and Iguan’s November decision was constitutional.
In his public statement, Prime Minister Marape, in response to the Supreme Court decision, stated, “Our government have consulted our coalition partners as well as the rank and file of Pangu Pati; they are all in total support that we respect the Supreme Court.” Reaffirming that his government is committed to upholding the rule of law, he stated, “I just want to tell our country we respect the court decision. We will comply with the court decision.” Marape confirmed that the “Speaker will advise the country that Parliament is recalled based on the court order, and Parliament will sit on the 8th as directed by the court.”
On September 12, 2024, the parliament rejected a vote of no confidence in the prime minister with 75 votes in favor and 32 against. The present court ruling affirms that the September ruling does not prohibit subsequent motions.