New People’s Progress Party leader Ben Micah is tipped to be Papua New Guinea’s new Deputy Prime Minister in a major cabinet reshuffle expected to take place this month, reports The National newspaper.
Micah, the Public Enterprises and State Investments Minister, is leading a three-way race to replace Leo Dion, the deputy parliamentary leader of the embattled Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party.
The other contenders are Treasury Minister Patrick Pruaitch and Fisheries Minister Mao Zeming.
Pruaitch is the parliamentary leader of the National Alliance Party. Zeming is deputy parliamentary leader of the People’s National Congress Party.
A well-placed coalition source told The National that Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was expected to make major changes to his team on his return from the Australia-Papua New Business Forum in Cairns.
The source said O’Neill was expected to replace ministers who were considered “fence-sitters” and would reduce the size of the coalition numbers to between 55 and 65 MPs.
He said O’Neill had delayed the reshuffle because of a leadership tussle within coalition partner PPP.
“The issue has now been resolved with the election of Micah as new parliamentary leader, replacing New Ireland Governor Sir Julius Chan,” the source said.
“As PPP leader, Micah is now in a better position to vie for the DPM’s post and is favoured over Pruaitch and Zeming.”
He said Micah’s long association with O’Neill, including his role as the PM’s chief of staff before the 2012 elections, placed him in a strong position to win his vote of confidence.
He said Micah was from the New Guinea Islands, like Dion, and his party was pushing for the DPM’s position to remain in that region.
Micah is currently in his Kavieng electorate undergoing a ritual to install him as a traditional chief.
However it is understood the O’Neill’s own party members want Zeming to take over the position because the party had missed out on the Treasury ministry which was handed to Pruaitch after THE Party leader Don Polye was sacked.
The source said PNC believed Zeming was well qualified for the position, being an experienced MP who had previously served as deputy to former Prime Minister Sir Mekere Morauta.
He added that Zeming was from the Momase region and his appointment would be considered justified because Prime Minister O’Neill was from the Highlands region and Governor-General Sir Michael Ogio was from the New Guinea Islands.
The source said NA was lobbying for its leader Pruaitch to become O’Neill’s deputy.