James Marape

{{Short description|Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea since 2019}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific-prefix = The Honourable

| honorific-suffix = MP

| name = James Marape

| image = Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on July 27, 2023 - 230727-D-TT977-0140 (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| caption = Marape in 2023

| order = 9th

| office = Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea

| predecessor = Peter O'Neill

| term_start = 30 May 2019

| monarch = Elizabeth II
Charles III

| governor-general = Sir Bob Dadae

| deputy = {{nowrap|Davis Steven (2019–2020)}}
Sam Basil (2020–2022)
John Rosso (2022–present)

| office2 = Minister of Foreign Affairs

| primeminister2 = Himself

| term_start2 = 12 May 2023{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-12/png-foreign-minister-justin-tkatchenko-steps-aside-tik-tok/102341050|title=Papua New Guinea's Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko steps aside|publisher=ABC News|date=12 May 2023|first1=Marian|last1=Faa|first2=Prianka|last2=Srinivasan|first3=Belinda|last3=Kora|access-date=28 June 2023}}

| term_end2 = 18 January 2024

| predecessor2 = Justin Tkatchenko

| successor2 = Justin Tkatchenko

| office3 = Minister of Finance

| primeminister3 = Peter O'Neill

| term_start3 = August 2012

| term_end3 = 11 April 2019

| predecessor3 = Peter O'Neill

| successor3 = Sam Basil

| office4 = Minister for Education

| primeminister4 = Michael Somare

| term_start4 = 16 December 2008

| term_end4 = 2 August 2011

| office5 = Member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea

| constituency5 = Tari-Pori District

| term_start5 = 2007

| predecessor5 = Tom Tomiape

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|4|24|df=y}}

| birth_place = Tari, Southern Highlands Province, Territory of Papua and New Guinea
(now Hela Province, Papua New Guinea)

| party = Pangu Party (2019–present)

| otherparty = People's National Congress (2012–2019)
National Alliance Party (2007)
People's Progress Party (2002)

| spouse = Rachael Marape

| children = 6

| nationality = Papua New Guinean

| alma_mater = University of Papua New Guinea

| years_active =

}}

James Marape (born 24 April 1971) is a Papua New Guinean politician who has served as the prime minister of Papua New Guinea since May 2019. He has been a member of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea since July 2007, representing the electorate of Tari-Pori Open in Hela Province in the New Guinea Highlands. He has held Cabinet Posts as Minister of Education (2008–2011), Minister of Finance (2012–2019), and Minister of Foreign Affairs (2023–2024).{{Cite web |title=Hon. James Marape, MP - Tenth Parliament of Papua New Guinea |url=https://www.parliament.gov.pg/index.php/tenth-parliament/bio/view/tari-pori-district |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=www.parliament.gov.pg |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Prime Minister Marape Sets High Expectations for Newly Appointed Ministers |url=https://info.gov.pg/prime-minister-marape-sets-high-expectations-for-newly-appointed-ministers/ |access-date=14 August 2024 |agency=Government of Papua New Guinea |date=21 January 2024}} Marape entered the 2022 elections under the banner of the Pangu Party and won the most seats, while still being far from a majority. He was therefore able to form government, which was elected unopposed by the new parliament.{{Cite news |date=2022-08-09 |title=James Marape returned as PNG's prime minister after tense election |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-08-09/papua-new-guinea-election-results-james-marape-to-govern/101311978 |access-date=2022-11-11}}

Early career

Marape was born in 1971 in Tari, Hela Province (then in Southern Highlands Province). He attended Minj Primary School and Kabiufa Adventist Secondary School in the PNG highlands. Marape graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Papua New Guinea in 1993, and a postgraduate Honours Degree in Environmental Science in 2000.

He has a background in managerial functions. From 1994 to 1995, he was Officer in charge at the PNG Institute of Medical Research, Tari Branch. From 1996 to 1998, he was Operations Manager of GDC at the Hides Gas project. After obtaining his honours degree, he became Acting Assistant Secretary of Policy with the Department of Personnel Management from 2001 to 2006.The Governments of Papua New Guinea Port Moresby (2012) Port Moresby: IMPS research Available in Australian National Library BibID 1644345

Political career

File:Fumio Kishida and James Marape before the funeral of Shinzo Abe (1).jpg

His entry into politics was tumultuous. Marape first contested the Tari-Pori seat at the 2002 election for the People's Progress Party, when voting in the Southern Highlands Province was cancelled due to widespread violence.Bunpalau, Wesley. "PPP names 78 for poll". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 28 March 2002.Rheeney, Alex. "SHP candidates urged to await new elections". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 12 August 2002. He contested the supplementary election in 2003 but lost to incumbent MP Tom Tomiape in a contest marred by the bashing of a polling official by his supporters."Tomiape wins Tari-Pori seat". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 5 May 2003."Death threat and bashing for election official". New Zealand Herald, 5 May 2003. He challenged the result in the Court of Disputed Returns, but both his initial petition and a subsequent appeal were rejected."Tari-Pori petition thrown out". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 25 October 2004."Court dismisses bid to re-open petition". Papua New Guinea Post-Courier, 3 May 2007.{{Cite web |title=Marape Elected Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea |url=https://news.pngfacts.com/2019/05/marape-elected-prime-minister-of-papua.html |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=Papua New Guinea Today |language=id}}

He contested the seat for a second time at the 2007 election and defeated Tomiape. He won the subsequent parliamentary elections in Tari-Pori (2012 and 2017). He obtained in 2017 50%+1 of the vote (30,192 votes) and this is unusual in PNG's Limited PV system.Freddy Mou, Marape retains seat in Tari Pori http://www.looppng.com/elections/marape-retains-seat-tari-pori-62430 Accessed: 10/05/2020

A challenge by the second runner up Justin Haiara was dismissed by the National Court.Sally Pokiton Tari Pori petition dismissed. Available at: http://www.looppng.com/png-news/tari-pori-petition-dismissed-79114 Posted on: 24/08/2019 Accessed: 10/05/2020

Prime Minister Michael Somare gave him major parliamentary responsibilities after his win in 2007: Parliamentary Secretary for Works, Transport and Civil Aviation, Deputy Chair of the Privileges Committee and member of the Parliamentary Referral Committee on Inter-Government Relations. He was Minister for Education from 16 December 2008 to 2 August 2011. He was then a member of Somare's National Alliance Party. In February 2012, he left the National Alliance Party and joined the party of Prime Minister O'Neill, the People's National Congress (PNC). O'Neill appointed him as Minister of Finance in 2012.

On 11 April 2019, he resigned as Minister of Finance but remained a member of People's National Congress and the Government.{{Cite web|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/james-marape-resigns-finance-minister/|title=James Marape resigns as finance minister|date=2019-04-11|website=Papua New Guinea Post-Courier|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-29|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529120434/https://postcourier.com.pg/james-marape-resigns-finance-minister/ |archivedate=2019-05-29 |url-status=live}} He resigned from the party on 29 April 2019. Sam Basil was appointed as Minister for Finance on 18 April 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/basil-replaces-marape-new-finance-minister/|title=Basil replaces Marape as new Finance Minister|date=2019-04-18|website=Papua New Guinea Post-Courier|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-29|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190529141107/https://postcourier.com.pg/basil-replaces-marape-new-finance-minister/ |archivedate=2019-05-29 |url-status=live}}

Premiership

File:Secretary Blinken Meets With Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Marape (52505821349).jpg in 2022]]

On 17 May 2019, the Ombudsman Commission recommended a leadership tribunal to judge O'Neill and Marape on the UBS loan to acquire shares in Oil Search Limited.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-05-17 |title=PNG leadership rivals O’Neill, Marape both implicated in UBS loan saga {{!}} Asia Pacific Report |url=https://asiapacificreport.nz/2019/05/17/png-leadership-rivals-oneill-marape-both-implicated-in-ubs-loan-saga/ |access-date=2024-02-29 |language=en-US}}

That was mentioned as the reason for Marape's replacement as alternate PM by Patrick Pruaitch on 28 May 2019. Marape introduced Patrick Pruaitch as alternate PM and declared that the vote for Pruaitch was by consensus.{{Cite web |title=Pruaitch is alternate PM |url=https://postcourier.com.pg/pruaitch-alternate-pm/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=postcourier.com.pg |date=28 May 2019 |language=en-US}} Peter O’Neill had then resigned as Prime Minister on 26 May.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-26 |title=Papua New Guinea's prime minister, Peter O'Neill, resigns |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/may/26/papua-new-guineas-prime-minister-peter-oneill-resigns |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}

Marape emerged from the succession struggle with 26 MPs who returned to the PNC from opposing parties. As a result, the opposition did not have the numbers anymore for a vote of no confidence.PNG Breaking News: Marape rejoins Peter O'Neil with 28 MPSAvailable at: https://www.facebook.com/pngbreakingnews/posts/2122420501199890? Posted on: 28/052019 Retrieved 27/04/2020 Accessed: 10/05/2020 The resignation of O'Neill necessitated the election of a new Prime Minister. Marape obtained in the subsequent election 101 votes as compared to 8 for Mekere Morauta.{{Cite web |title=Marape sworn in as country's 8th PM |url=https://postcourier.com.pg/marape-sworn-countrys-8th-pm/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=postcourier.com.pg |date=30 May 2019 |language=en-US}}

O'Neill expected that his Cabinet would continue unchanged. However, during a reshuffle on 8 November Marape replaced most of the Cabinet Ministers. O'Neill continues to be critical. He opposes especially Marape's view of the economy. He stresses that Marape is as responsible for the state of affairs as O'Neill: he was minister of finance.

On 10 November 2020 Marape was confronted by an attempt to topple him from power. A motion of no confidence in the Marape government could be mounted after 30 November as the grace period for a new cabinet expired then. A motion by Belden Namah was accepted (57–39) to adjourn Parliament to 1 December with the intention to mount a vote on such a motion. Those who voted with Namah, 55 in number, went in a so-called "camp" in Vanimo, the constituency of Belden. They comprised among others of 11 Cabinet ministers, 3 ex Prime Ministers and 4 ex Deputy Prime Ministers, Marape retorted by starting a "camp" on Loloata island near Port Moresby. Fifty three MPs went with him. At that time there were 110 elective members of parliament and the competition was therefore close.

Peter O’Neill had fronted with Namah the opposition movement and brought a case before the Supreme Court to declare the budget sitting on 17 November unconstitutional. The Supreme Court ruled in his favour and the decisions taken then were invalid. The Speaker recalled parliament on 14 December.Second, the Private Business committee of parliament is crucial to get a vote of no confidence on the agenda. Namah had in his initiative replaced the members of that committee with supporters in the opposition. Marape reversed this and brought his own supporters on the committee in the session of 17 November The most important issue in this meeting was filing a motion of no confidence with the Private Business committee by Belden Namah. The opposition proposed Patrick Pruaitch as alternate Prime Minister. In that session the opposition had support of 55 members as compared to 32.{{Cite web |title=Showdown – The National |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/showdown-3/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=www.thenational.com.pg}}

The vote of no confidence was never tabled when parliament reconvened on 16 December, Eighteen MPs crossed the floor from the opposition to the government benches and therefore brought the government's support to 70, a solid majority. Sam Basil, the previous deputy prime minister went back to his old place. The competition for alternate prime ministership between Patrick Pruaitch and Sam Basil had been decided in favour of the former to the dismay of Basil and his followers. They returned in protest to the government benches.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-16 |title=Marape holds on to power in PNG's game of political musical chairs |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/432983/marape-holds-on-to-power-in-png-s-game-of-political-musical-chairs |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz}} It was perceived as an attempt to regain power by the old guard.{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=111086040705235&story_fbid=172518521228653 |access-date=2024-04-19 |website=www.facebook.com}} Marape presented a confident New Year's Message in which he also stressed the generational change in PNG politics. He also said that the old guard had a record in which there was little to be proud of.James Marape,Seasonal Christian greetings to you Papua New Guneans https://covid19.info.gov.pg/index.php/2021/01/02/new-year-message-by-prime-minister-hon-james-marape-mp-30-december-2020/ Posted on: 2/1/202 Accessed on: 15/2/2021

On 12 January 2022, Marape announced plans to abolish capital punishment.{{cite web|url=https://7news.com.au/politics/law-and-order/png-government-abolishing-death-penalty-c-5278327|title=PNG government abolishing death penalty|publisher=7News|date=12 January 2022|access-date=13 January 2022}} The Capital Punishment Act was repealed on 20 January 2022, and all sentenced prisoners had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment.{{cite web|url=https://postcourier.com.pg/death-penalty-act-repealed/|title=Death Penalty Act Repealed|publisher=Papua New Guinea Post-Courier|date=21 January 2022|access-date=21 January 2022}}

Marape entered the 2022 elections under the banner of Pangu Party and won 38 of the 115 seats declared. O'Neill's PNC was the runner up with 16 seats. Marape was elected unopposed as Prime Minister. He was as leader of the largest party entitled to form the government and left his cabinet virtually unchanged. His new government was elected unopposed by the new parliament.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-03 |title=PNG election: Pangu leads, PNC jolted |url=https://islandsbusiness.com/news-break/png-election-pangu-leads-pnc-jolted/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=Islands Business |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=PM names 33-member cabinet |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/pm-names-33-member-cabinet/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=www.thenational.com.pg}}

In 2024, another vote of no confidence was proposed by the opposition, but stalled after the attorney general went to the Supreme Court while it was being debated by a parliamentary committee on 14 February.{{Cite web |title=Motion of no confidence in PNG PM James Marape stalled |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/509253/motion-of-no-confidence-in-png-pm-james-marape-stalled |access-date=23 February 2024 |website=RNZ }}

In February 2024, Marape became the first leader of a Pacific Islands nation to address the Australian Parliament.{{Cite web |title=Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape urges Australia to not 'give up' on his country in historic parliament address|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-08/prime-minister-of-png-james-marape-address-parliament/103442156 |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=ABC Australia |date=8 February 2024 |language=en}} On 11 September 2024 he survived a motion of no confidence.{{Cite web |title=James Marape remains PM after no confidence vote against him fails|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/527805/james-marape-remains-pm-after-no-confidence-vote-against-him-fails |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=RNZ |date=12 September 2024 |language=en}}

Personal life

James Marape is a member and leader of the Huli people, one of the country's largest tribes and ethnic groups. Marape's father was a Seventh-day Adventist pastor with Marape identifying with the church as well.{{Cite web |title=Who is James Marape, 8th PM of PNG? |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/who-is-james-marape-8th-pm-of-png/qm5jfb17o |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=SBS News |language=en}}

Marape is married to Rachael Marape, who is originally from East Sepik Province. The couple have six children.{{Cite web |title=First Lady Rachael steps into focus |url=https://postcourier.com.pg/first-lady-rachael-steps-focus/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=postcourier.com.pg |date=30 May 2019 |language=en-US}}

{{Cite web |title=Marape's wife vows to support husband – The National |url=https://www.thenational.com.pg/marapes-wife-vows-to-support-husband/ |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=www.thenational.com.pg}}

On being sworn in, Marape said he wants Papua New Guinea to be "the richest black Christian nation" in the world.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/oceania/papua-new-guinea-sets-audacious-goal-to-become-richest-black-christian-nation-1.874876/|title=Papua New Guinea sets audacious goal to become 'richest black Christian nation|website= The National|date=16 June 2019 |access-date=2019-07-15}}