Registrar of Political Parties Dr Alphonse Gelu says there’s a big challenge ahead for new political parties contesting in the 2017 National Elections.
The Integrity of Political Parties and Candidates Commission this week approved the applications of seven new political parties.
Gelu said the timing of registration of these new parties poses a challenge for them.
The parties now have only a month to tell the people about themselves including their policies.
They have to compete with well-established political parties such as People’s National Congress (PNC), National Alliance (NA), Pangu, National Party, United Party and PNG Party.
Gelu said: “These political parties have made an impact on politics of this country so the challenge is now on the new parties to do the same.
“Competing in an election is not a game but serious business as parties must go out and compete with each other.
“Competition in an election such as that in PNG is govern by rules, therefore the challenge is on all the parties to compete equally and in accordance with the rules of the election”.
The Registry has confirmed that only 44 political parties will contest in the 2017 National Elections.