PNG Changes Constitution ‘For Stability’
The Papua New Guinea Parliament on Wednesday passed amendments to the constitution in the hopes of stabilizing the country, instituting a blackout period for no-confidence votes and proclaiming the country as a Christian nation, Radio New Zealand reported.
Under the amendment, any government that survives a no-confidence vote will not face another for 18 months. A new administration is given an 18-month grace period after taking office.
Prime Minister James Marape – who survived several of these votes over the past year – praised the amendment and said it struck a balance between abolishing the measure and the current situation in which an administration faces multiple such votes annually.
Lawmakers also passed a measure officially recognizing the nation as a Christian country, changing the preamble to reflect a Christian identity and making the Bible a national symbol.
Marape said the change underscores the contributions of Christian churches to the country’s unity and development. At the same time, he added that the constitution protects the freedom of religion for non-Christians.
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