General elections were held in Papua New Guinea between 24 June and 8 July 2017.^[1] The writs for the election were issued on 20 April,^[2] and candidate nominations closed on 27 April.^[1]

Quick Facts Party, Leader ...

2017 Papua New Guinean general election

← 2012 24 June – 8 July 2017 2022 →

All 111 seats in the National Parliament 56 seats needed for a majority

Party Leader % Seats +/– PNC Peter O'Neill 13.16 28 +1 NAP Patrick Pruaitch 6.13 15 +8 THE Party Don Polye 4.10 4 −8 Pangu Pati Sam Basil 4.08 9 +8 URP William Duma 3.93 10 +3 PPP Ben Micah 3.46 5 −1 PNG Party Belden Namah 2.74 5 −3 National Party Kerenga Kua 2.36 3 +3 People's Party Peter Ipatas 1.75 2 −4 SDP Powes Parkop 1.64 2 −1 PLP Benedict Simanjuang 1.62 2 +2 United Party Rimbink Pato 1.41 1 0 One Nation Peter Numu 1.31 1 New CDP Kelly Naru 1.27 1 +1 PDM Paias Wingti 1.27 1 −1 CRP Joseph Lelang 1.25 1 −1 PMC Gary Juffa 0.95 1 −1 MAP Joseph Yopyyopy 0.81 1 +1 Country Party Nelson Duabane 0.68 1 0 ODP Puka Temu 0.45 1 0 MLP Allan Marat 0.21 1 −1 Independent – 37.54 14 −2 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Results by constituency Prime Minister before Prime Minister after Peter O'Neill PNC Peter O'Neill PNC

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Michael Somare, the first Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, retired as a Member of National Parliament at the election. Somare has served continuously since he was first elected to the pre-independence House of Assembly in 1968, an unbroken term of 49 years.^[3]

On 1 August 2017 Peter O'Neill was re-elected as Prime Minister by Parliament by a vote of 64–40.^[4]

The 111 members of the National Parliament were elected from single-member constituencies by preferential voting; voters were given up to three preferences, with a candidate declared elected once they received over 50% of preference votes.^[5] Of the 111 members, 89 were elected from "open" seats and 22 from provincial seats based on the twenty provinces, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville and the National Capital District (Port Moresby). The provincial members are also the governors of their respective provinces, unless they take a ministerial position, in which case the position goes to one of the members for the open seats.

The Papua New Guinea Electoral Commission reported in preliminary figures that 3332 candidates have nominated to contest the election, 165 candidates of whom are women.^[9]

More information Province, Region ...

Province	Region	Male Candidates	Female Candidates	Total
Chimbu	Highlands Region	309	11	320
Eastern Highlands	Highlands Region	384	12	396
Enga	Highlands Region	154	8	162
Hela	Highlands Region	89	3	92
Jiwaka	Highlands Region	133	5	138
Southern Highlands	Highlands Region	116	1	117
Western Highlands	Highlands Region	95	3	98
A/R Bougainville	NGI Region	68	5	73
East New Britain	NGI Region	79	2	81
Manus	NGI Region	52	8	60
New Ireland	NGI Region	42	4	46
West New Britain	NGI Region	68	0	68
East Sepik	Momase Region	163	11	174
Madang	Momase Region	253	14	267
Morobe	Momase Region	314	13	327
West Sepik	Momase Region	92	5	97
Central	Papua Region	133	14	147
Gulf	Papua Region	133	12	145
Milne Bay	Papua Region	96	5	101
National Capital District	Papua Region	128	13	141
Northern	Papua Region	95	8	103
Western	Papua Region	171	8	179
Total		3167	165	3332

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There has reportedly been less activity in the 2017 election compared to previous elections, with PNG National Party Leader Kerenga Kua saying "There is less colour, less movement, and that's not good, because you need to have some level of activity for educational purposes".^[10] Four people died in clashes regarding the election, with several candidates attacked during campaigning or nominations, to which Electoral Comisisoner Patilias Gamato said "We have not gone into polls yet but already people are engaging in violent activities, threats and intimidation — that's unnecessary."^[10]

Ezekiel Anisi, MP for Ambunti-Dreikikir Open died suddenly on 24 May 2017 at a Port Moresby guesthouse in the midst of his re-election campaign.^[11]

The Bank of Papua New Guinea is concerned that 160 Million Kina of old currency which was stolen has the potential to influence the election.^[12] There are concerns in the Menyama District of Morobe Province that poor weather conditions affecting road transport could cause issues with the transportation of polling materials closer towards the election.^[13]

Significant issues with voting had arisen by late June. On 27 June, the day voting was due to begin in the National Capital District, voting in all three electorates there was delayed until 30 June after polling officials went on strike due to unpaid allowances. At least sixteen electoral officials were arrested, including NCD election manager Terrence Hetinu, who was found with US$57,000 in cash stored in his car, while NCD assistant returning officer Roselyn Tobogani was arrested after officials were found smuggling ballot papers out of the provincial election office.^[14][15][16]

Voting in Chimbu Province, Hela Province and Western Highlands Province failed to begin on schedule on 26 June due to issues with the common roll and disputes over numbers of ballot papers, while voting in Eastern Highlands Province only commenced on a limited basis amidst reports that "thousands of students" had been left off the electoral roll.^[14][15]

Electoral Commissioner Patilias Gamato obtained a court order against blogger Martyn Namorong, restricting him from sharing defamatory statements against the commissioner. This came after Gamato received criticism which compared him and his surname to a tomato.^[17]

No women were elected, making Papua New Guinea one of only three or four countries in the world (as of 1 February 2019) to have no women in the legislature.^[18]

• Members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, 2017–2022
• Women in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea