Politics & Government Guide
Political system, governance structure, stability indicators, and democratic institutions in Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea operates as a constitutional monarchy within the Westminster parliamentary system, with a 118-seat unicameral National Parliament. No single party has ever won a majority, requiring coalition governments to form. The current Prime Minister James Marape has been in office since May 2019 and is exploring constitutional reforms to strengthen executive governance.
Government Type
Constitutional Monarchy
Legal System
Westminster system based on British and Australian common law with constitutional framework adopted in 1975
Head of State
King Charles III(since 2022)
Head of Government
Prime Minister James Marape(Pangu Pati)since 2019
Legislature
Major Political Parties
Voting Rights
All citizens over 18 years of age may vote. Voting is not compulsory.
Recent Developments
- Prime Minister James Marape has promoted constitutional reform including exploration of a directly elected prime minister system
- Ongoing discussions about potential shift from Westminster unicameral system to alternative parliamentary structures
- Constitutional and Law Reform Commission exploring presidential system alternatives
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