PNG Country Party President Nelson Duwabane is calling on the Government to amend the Organic Law on Elections and Political parties in the country.
Duwabane, in a statement said PNG has adopted the Westminster system of democracy, with its established precedents and procedure.
However, he said its implementation is lacking hence the various laws to give effect such as the OLIPPAC and Parliamentary Standing Orders.
“The O'Neill Government needs to introduce the amendments in the October and November Parliament session if it wants to see a fair and free elections and political and economic stability,” he said.
He added that certain provisions existed in the Constitution, in Section 127-130 for enactment of an Organic Law to protect elections from hidden and outside influences and basically to enable the development and strengthening of political system through political parties, candidates and political parties were a threat to our system hence the enacting of the OLIPPAC law for 2002 Elections.
“The Organic Law on the Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates (OLIPPAC) was enacted to protect elections and political process and to bring stability in the system of government and to strengthen our system of voting in Parliament based on party policies; to develop and nurture a democratic political culture and to ensure participation of people in electing their leaders in any government system.”
Duwabane said the issues facing the country is whether political parties can engage in open competition, have access to voters, have equal access to media and means of communication and have resources to travel widely and sell platforms and endorse candidates.
“We know that political party reform had little effect on voting behavior, however, in the long run, our system of government is based on political parties and policies and we cannot run away from it.
He said despite the intentions of the Constitutional Planning Committee, Constitution and National Parliament, the democratic ideals upon which to build a political culture and to ensure its practice does not seem to transcend from the Parliamentary level and onto the mindset of the ordinary people.
“With the 2017 Elections some months away, we want the Government to revise the OLIPPAC and the Organic Law on National and LLG Elections to ensure we have smooth elections and to achieve our intentions.