15 Facts About Paias Wingti

Paias Wingti was born on 2 February 1951 and is a Papua New Guinean politician.

Paias Wingti served as the third prime minister of Papua New Guinea between 1985 and 1988, and again from 1992 to 1994.

Paias Wingti did not go to school until the age of 10, but was later educated at Mount Hagen High School.

Paias Wingti enrolled at the University of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby in 1974, and first visited Australia as an Australian Union of Students delegate for the UPNG Student Representative Council.

Paias Wingti served as Minister for Civil Aviation from 1978 until the defeat of the first Somare government in 1980, and when Somare returned to power in 1982, became Deputy Prime Minister.

Paias Wingti remained in power after the 1987 election after corralling a slender majority of three votes.

Paias Wingti announced a more independent foreign policy, attempting to enhance relations with the Soviet Union, US, Japan and China.

Paias Wingti lost a motion of confidence in July 1988 with changes in the shifting coalition and was succeeded by Rabbie Namaliu, the new leader of the Pangu Party, but Wingti returned for a further two-year stint in 1992.

Paias Wingti continued to represent the Western Highlands in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, although he switched from the local Hagen constituency to the provincial-level electorate in 1995.

Paias Wingti served as the governor of Western Highlands Province from 1995 to 1997, when he was defeated for re-election by Father Robert Lak.

Paias Wingti returned to parliament in 2002, defeating Lak to regain his seat and the governorship.

Paias Wingti subsequently won back the leadership of the People's Democratic Movement from Mekere Morauta, who had taken over after his defeat, in 2007.

Additionally, Paias Wingti lost the governorship of West Highlands Province to Olga.

Paias Wingti nominated to contest the July 2012 general elections and defeated Tom Olga by 112640 votes to 89195, a difference of 23445 votes and elected Governor of Western Highlands Province.

Paias Wingti was one of the three former prime ministers who backed Peter O'Neil to be retained as prime minister of Papua New Guinea at Parliament House on 3 August 2012.