Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill has announced that he will step down from the role, after weeks of defections from his coalition government.
Radio NZ reports O'Neill told a press conference in Port Moresby yesterday, that he would resign “in the coming days”.
After almost eight years in the position, he said he would hand over the leadership to Sir Julius Chan, a 79‑year‑old who has had two previous stints as prime minister.
The prime minister's resignation is not final until after it is received in writing by the governor general.
O’Neill said he would visit the Queen's representative this week, to “clear the way for the parliament to vote for the next prime minister”.
Pressure has been building for weeks on O'Neill's coalition government with an exodus of MPs, including senior ministers, from his People's National Congress party, joining the opposition.
Source: Radio NZ
ADVERTISEMENT
