The Right Honourable Grand Chief Sir Michael Thomas Somare GCL GCMG CH CF SSI KStJ KSG MP |
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Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea | |
In office 17 January 2011 – 4 April 2011 |
|
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governor General | Sir Michael Ogio |
Preceded by | Sam Abal (Acting) |
Succeeded by | Sam Abal (Acting) |
In office 5 August 2002 – 13 December 2010 |
|
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governor General |
Sir Silas Atopare Bill Skate (Acting) Jeffrey Nape (Acting) Sir Paulias Matane |
Preceded by | Sir Mekere Morauta |
Succeeded by | Sam Abal (Acting) |
In office 2 August 1982 – 21 November 1985 |
|
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governor General |
Sir Tore Lokoloko Sir Kingsford Dibela |
Preceded by | Sir Julius Chan |
Succeeded by | Paias Wingti |
In office 16 September 1975 – 11 March 1980 |
|
Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governor General |
Sir John Guise Sir Tore Lokoloko |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Julius Chan |
Personal details | |
Born |
Rabaul, Territory of New Guinea |
9 April 1936
Political party | National Alliance Party |
Spouse(s) | Veronica Somare |
Sir Michael Thomas Somare GCL GCMG CH CF SSI KSG PC MP (born 9 April 1936) is a politician who served as the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2002 to 2011; he had previously been Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he then became leader of the National Alliance Party. He was re-elected as Prime Minister in the 2007 election, and his family announced his resignation due to ill health in June 2011.
On 12 December 2011, the Supreme Court of Papua New Guinea ordered that Somare be reinstated as Prime Minister, ruling that his successor, Peter O'Neill, was not lawfully appointed. This event triggered the 2011–12 Papua New Guinean constitutional crisis. Following a decisive victory for O'Neill in the 2012 general election, Somare expressed support for him, thereby ending the crisis and forming a coalition government.