O'Neill sworn in as PNG PM

30 May 2012, 6:46 pm   -   Source: AAP

Peter O'Neill has been sworn in as PNG's PM for the third time but the process didn't go smoothly.

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Peter O'Neill has been sworn in as Papua New Guinea's prime minister for the third time, after acting governor-general Jeffery Nape refused at first to perform the ceremony.

Mr O'Neill was elected unopposed by parliament on Wednesday morning to be the nation's prime minister for the third time in 10 months, following a shock decision by acting speaker Francis Marus to declare the position vacant on Tuesday.

However, his swearing-in at Government House was unexpectedly put on hold by Mr Nape.

"I will study the documents and then conduct the ceremony," he said.

"The swearing-in is suspended."

Mr Nape then made his exit, leaving a clearly stunned Mr O'Neill asking if he should wait or come back at a future date.

MPs spent the next three hours locked in furious negotiations at Government House.

Internal security minister John Boito was heard shouting, "What the f*** is going on?" and "Come on, parliament has voted."

Mr Nape was PNG's enormously powerful parliamentary speaker until Governor-General Michael Ogio left the country for London on Monday.

He has advocated delaying the national election, something Mr O'Neill says he cannot do.

Mr O'Neill and Mr Nape shook hands and hugged after the ceremony, but the act had about as much warmth as the chilled champagne they drank to mark the occasion.

Mr O'Neill said he would change his cabinet line-up and wanted to put PNG's rolling political crisis behind him.

"I want to assure the citizens of this country, I hope this is the last of this saga," he told reporters after the ceremony.

"Let's not make a joke of ourselves and go to the elections.

"My coalition is committed to coming back and providing a government that will deliver in the best interests of our country."

PNG will go to the polls on June 23.

Mr O'Neill won Wednesday's parliamentary vote 56 to zero after being nominated by his deputy Belden Namah.

Parliament first voted him in as prime minister on August 2, and again on December 12 last year.

Acting speaker Francis Marus tried to stop Wednesday's vote, telling the chamber neither Mr O'Neill nor his rival Sir Michael Somare could stand because they had been at the root of the political crisis that has gripped the nation.

Mr Namah moved a motion of dissent, and the acting speaker relented.

PNG has been gripped by a political crisis since Monday last week, when three members of the Supreme Court ruled for a second time that Sir Michael was the legitimate prime minister.

Two judges on the five-man bench refused to hand down their decision on ethical grounds.

Chief Justice Sir Salamo Injia and Justice Nicholas Kirriwom have been charged with sedition since the ruling.

Sir Salamo is next in line to become acting governor general if Mr Nape leaves the country.

Parliament is expected to resume this week.

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