PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (AP) — Prime Minister Mekere Morauta said Sunday he had asked electoral officials to extend voting in Papua New Guinea’s chaotic parliamentary election by two weeks.
It would be the second time polling has been extended in the impoverished Pacific nation’s election, which has been marred by violence and disorganization.
Papua New Guinea, a sprawling island of 5 million people began voting on June 15. Polling stations in rural areas were originally scheduled to close June 29, with official results to be released July 15.
But so far, results have been declared for only a quarter of the 109 seats being contested.
Last week Governor-General Silas Atopare ordered voting to continue until July 6 in almost half of the 109 constituencies. However, electoral officials said Sunday that some remote parts of the country have only just received polling materials.
Morauta said Sunday he had been advised the poll could be extended until July 29. “I’m confident that we can be in a position to elect a government within that period,” he told reporters in the capital Port Moresby.
Almost 3,000 candidates, including candidates from 43 political parties and hundreds of independents, are running in the election, which is seen, as the most crucial since Australia granted independence to Papua New Guinea in 1975.
But the election has been plagued with problems. Polling stations have not opened, ballot boxes have gone missing and electoral staff has gone on strike.
Media reports have also said 16 people have been killed in election-related violence, but police have confirmed only seven deaths.
