Rural Development Party Explained

The Rural Development Party was a political party in Papua New Guinea.

It was founded in November 2006 by Esa’ala MP Moses Maladina, who became the party's first leader.^{[1] [2]} In May 2007, media reports suggested that some members were unhappy with a perceived lack of party financial support for their campaigns.^[3]

It was reported to have won three out of 109 seats at the 2007 general elections: Maladina, Alphonse Moroi (Central Provincial) and Benjamin Philip (Mariyama Open).^{[4] [5] [6]} A fourth, Manus Provincial MP Michael Sapau, had been reported as a party candidate during the campaign, but denied any association upon his election and claimed to be an independent.^[7] The party initially supported the government of Michael Somare, with Maladina being promoted to the Ministry as Minister of State for Constitutional Affairs in July 2010; the party then had a position in the Peter O'Neill government from August 2011.^{[8] [9]}

Moroi had joined the National Alliance Party by late 2008.^[10] By the 2012 election, Maladina and Philip had defected to the governing People's National Congress, and Maladina was serving as Leader of Government Business. In April 2012, Speaker Jeffrey Nape - formerly of the Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party - was appointed as the new Rural Development Party leader for the election.^{[11] [12]}

The party won no seats at the 2012 election and was deregistered in 2015.^{[13] [14]}

Notes and References

1. News: Maladina eyes top post, forms own party . 7 November 2006 .
2. News: Maladina to lead Rural Development party . PNG Post Courier . 2 February 2007 .
3. News: Party members cry foul over treatment . PNG Post Courier . 30 May 2007 .
4. News: NATIONAL ELECTION 2007 . Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission . 31 December 2016 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070823133021/http://www.pngec.gov.pg/resultsNat2007/SummaryResults.htm . 23 August 2007 .
5. News: Recruiting drive . PNG Post Courier . 26 July 2007 .
6. News: Rural Development Party secures Menyamya seat . PNG Post Courier . 27 July 2007 .
7. News: Sapau pledges support for NA . PNG Post Courier . 24 July 2007 .
8. News: PM says govt is intact . PNG Post Courier . 29 July 2009 .
9. Book: Political Handbook of the World 2015 . CQ Press . Lansford, Tom. 24 March 2015 . 9781483371559 .
10. News: NA southern batch to host dinner . PNG Post Courier . 4 November 2008 .
11. News: Weekend of surprises . PNG Post Courier . 24 July 2012 .
12. Web site: Hon. Benjamin Philip, MP . National Parliament of Papua New Guinea . 31 December 2016 . 24 March 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170324091151/http://www.parliament.gov.pg/index.php/member-of-parliament/bio/view/menyamya-district . dead .
13. Web site: NATIONAL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 2012 . PNG Electoral Commission . 1 January 2017 . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20120826173650/http://results.pngec.gov.pg/index.html . 26 August 2012 .
14. News: Political parties cancelled . PNG Post Courier . 20 August 2015 .