IB2017/37 Parliamentary Elections and Government Formation in PNG and Timor-Leste — a Study in Contrasts

Author/s (editor/s):
Publication year:
Publication type:
Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste both have new coalition governments following mid-year parliamentary elections, but the processes that produced them and the outcomes could not be more dissimilar. While PNG’s election was in the news for weeks for all the wrong reasons, the government that swiftly took office following the election is currently looking solid. Timor-Leste, in contrast, conducted a copybook election but government formation was slow and fraught and the minority government that was ultimately appointed is looking very shaky.