Paias Wingti

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Paias Wingti (born 2 February 1951) is a Papua New Guinean politician who served as prime minister twice, from 1985 to 1988 and again from 1992 to 1994. He comes from the Jika people of the Western Highlands and was born in Moika village near Mount Hagen. He started school late but later attended Mount Hagen High School and studied economics at the University of Papua New Guinea. He entered politics in 1977, winning the Hagen Open seat with the Pangu Party.

In 1985, after Prime Minister Michael Somare lost a vote of no confidence, Wingti became prime minister, the first highland-born leader to hold the job. He kept the position after the 1987 election but faced internal turmoil, including the resignation of key coalition member Ted Diro amid corruption charges. In 1988, a motion of no confidence toppled Wingti’s government, and Rabbie Namaliu became prime minister.

Wingti returned to power in 1992 after defeating Namaliu in parliament. He faced a leadership challenge from Deputy Prime Minister Julius Chan in 1993. Wingti secretly resigned to trigger a new vote, was re-elected the next day, and protected from a no-confidence motion for 18 months. In 1994 the Supreme Court ruled that his resignation was valid but his reelection incorrect, and Julius Chan became prime minister.

In later years, Wingti lost his seat in 1997 to Robert Lak, won it back in 2002, and then lost again in 2007 to Tom Olga. He played a role in party leadership changes in 2004 and stepped down in favor of Peter O’Neill.

Personal life: Wingti married Dianne Kende in 1991; they had a child but divorced in 1994. In 1992 he faced a paternity suit.

Economic and policy notes: The budget deficit grew during his time in office, rising sharply and leading to austerity measures and layoffs to reduce the deficit. On the international front, Papua New Guinea opposed French nuclear testing in the Pacific in 1985, signed a cooperation treaty with Indonesia in 1986, and Indonesian troops briefly entered Papua New Guinea in 1988.