23 Facts About Julius Chan

Sir Julius Chan was a Papua New Guinean politician who served as Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1980 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1997.

Julius Chan was Member of Parliament for New Ireland Province, having won the seat in the 2007 national election.

Julius Chan was the Governor of New Ireland Province from 2007 until his death in 2025.

On 26 May 2019, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill announced he would soon resign and that he wished for Sir Julius to succeed him.

Julius Chan was a leading figure in his country during the years-long Bougainville conflict.

Julius Chan was born as the fifth child out of seven children on the Tanga Islands in the Territory of New Guinea, in what is New Ireland Province, the son of Julius Chan Pak, a trader from Taishan, China, and Miriam Tinkoris, a native New Irelander.

Julius Chan was educated at Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Julius Chan first became actively involved in politics in the 1960s.

Julius Chan was elected to represent the Namatanai district of New Ireland province in the pre-independence House of Assembly in 1968 and was re-elected in 1972,1977,1982,1987 and 1992.

Julius Chan was Deputy Prime Minister four times, and Minister of Finance three times.

Julius Chan held the portfolios of Primary Industry and External Affairs and Trade.

Julius Chan became leader of the People's Progress Party in 1970.

Julius Chan was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1981, and appointed a Privy Counsellor the next year.

Julius Chan first became prime minister on 11 March 1980, succeeding the country's first prime minister, Michael Somare, after he launched a no-confidence motion against him over a disagreement on whether to increase the salaries of MPs and require them to divest from their business interests.

Julius Chan served as prime minister until 2 August 1982, when Somare regained the position.

Julius Chan succeeded Prime Minister Paias Wingti in August 1994 and took office on the dual platform of national security and appropriate economic management.

Julius Chan was criticised for his decision to float the kina in 1994, citing a balance of payments crisis.

Julius Chan regained the position on 2 June 1997, shortly before the national elections.

Julius Chan was defeated in the national election in June 1997 and was succeeded as prime minister by Bill Skate on 22 July 1997.

Julius Chan was later acquitted on corruption charges relating to the Sandline affair.

In 2002, Julius Chan ran for a seat in the New Ireland provincial assembly but lost to Ian Ling-Stuckey.

Julius Chan was briefly Leader of the Opposition, but gave up the position to Mekere Morauta in August 2007.

Julius Chan died in Huris, New Ireland Province on 30 January 2025, at the age of 85.