The prime minister is not open to challenge until next February, when the 18-month grace period protecting him expires.
The leaders gathered in a show of support amid talks of a reshuffle and the possibility of accommodating at least two parties in the opposition in an expanded cabinet.
The opposition has 20 members, comprising the PNG Party, New Generation Party, People’s Progress Party and People’s Labor Party.
The government has an overwhelming majority of 86, so any threat to Somare would have to come from within the government than from outside.
The National Alliance party has been reduced from 40 to 38 MPs with South Bougainville MP Michael Laimo and Madang Gov. Arnold Amet losing their seats in a court of disputed returns.
NA has four deputy leaders, representing the four regions of the country, and anyone of the four would succeed Somare should he step aside or retire at the end of this term.
The leaders who were present included Somare (NA), Peter O’Neill (People’s National Congress, William Duma (United Resources Party), Gabriel Kapris (People’s Action Party), Dame Carol Kidu (Melanesian Alliance), Moses Maladina (Rural Development Party), Dr. Allan Marat (Melanesian Liberal Party) and Joe Mek Teine (National Party).
Parties in the government whose leaders were not present included People’s Party, Rural Pipol’s Party, United Party and Pangu Pati.
NA party president Simon Kaiwi said the gathering was informal for the leaders to celebrate their first 12 months in office.
“The gathering gave the leaders an opportunity to confirm their commitment to the Warangoi Accord.
“All party leaders gave their undertaking to support the prime minister to complete his five-year term,” Kaiwi said. “All the leaders were given the freedom to speak their minds, and were happy with the way the country was being run,” he said.
Kaiwi rejected talks of a cabinet reshuffle, saying there was no need for one. But other political sources said the prime minister would reshuffle his cabinet and offer positions to the New Generation Party and the People’s Progress Party.
A constitutional amendment to expand the cabinet from 28 to 32 had been certified by the speaker, and could be introduced in Parliament this week, or during the budget session.
Because it is a constitutional amendment, it would go through three readings and require an absolute majority to pass.
