Julius Chan

Sir Julius Chan GCL GCMG KBE PC (born 29 August 1939) served as Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 1980 to 1982 and from 1994 to 1997. He is Member of Parliament for New Ireland Province, having won the seat in the 2007 national election. He is also the current Governor of New Ireland Province, since 2007. On 26 May 2019, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill announced he would soon resign and that he wished for Sir Julius to succeed him. An outgoing Prime Minister does not, however, have the power to appoint his successor, and the following day O'Neill delayed his own formal resignation.[1]

The Right Honourable Sir Julius Chan GCL GCMG KBE PC
4th Governor of New Ireland
Incumbent
Assumed office 6 August 2007
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Ian Ling-Stuckey
2nd Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea
In office 2 June 1997 – 22 July 1997
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	John Giheno
Succeeded by	Bill Skate
In office 30 August 1994 – 27 March 1997
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Paias Wingti
Succeeded by	John Giheno
In office 11 March 1980 – 2 August 1982
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Michael Somare
Succeeded by	Michael Somare
Personal details
Born	29 August 1939 Tanga Islands, Territory of New Guinea
Nationality	Papua New Guinean
Political party	People's Progress Party
Spouse(s)	Lady Stella Chan
Children	4

Early life

Chan was born as the fifth child out of seven children on the Tanga Islands in the Territory of New Guinea, in what is now New Ireland Province, the son of Chin Pak (陳柏), a trader from Taishan, China and Miriam Tinkoris, a native New Irelander.[2] He was educated at Marist College Ashgrove in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.

Early political career

Chan first became actively involved in politics in the 1960s. He 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. He was Deputy Prime Minister four times (1976, 1985, 1986, 1992-1994), and Minister of Finance three times (1972–1977, 1985-1986 and 1992–1994).[3] He also held the portfolios of Primary Industry (1977–78) and External Affairs and Trade (1994). Chan became leader of the People's Progress Party in 1970. He was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1981, and appointed a Privy Counsellor the next year.[4]

Prime minister

Chan first became prime minister on 11 March 1980, succeeding the country's first prime minister, Michael Somare. He served as prime minister until 2 August 1982, when Somare regained the position.

He succeeded Prime Minister Paias Wingti in August 1994 and took office on the dual platform of national security and appropriate economic management. In 1997, the Chan government's multimillion-dollar contract with Sandline International, a mercenary organization, to counter separatist guerrilla warfare on Bougainville caused the Sandline affair, with immense public protests and a 10-day mutiny by the underpaid national army. On 25 March 1997, during an inquiry that started on 21 March that caused five ministers to resign, the Parliament defeated a motion calling on Chan to resign (59-38). However, the next day, Chan and two ministers chose to step down, and John Giheno, a member of Chan’s party, became acting prime minister a day later. He regained the position on 2 June 1997, shortly before the national elections. Chan was defeated in the national election in June 1997 and was succeeded as prime minister by Bill Skate on 22 July 1997. He remained out of Parliament until winning the New Ireland Provincial seat in the June–July 2007 election.

Later career

During the "horse trading" phase of negotiations following the 2007 election, he was nominated for the position of prime minister, with the backing of Mekere Morauta and Bart Philemon, as an alternative to the large National Alliance grouping which appeared likely to again be led by Somare.[5] Parliamentary Speaker Jeffrey Nape rejected Chan's nomination as a candidate and Somare won the vote to become Prime Minister without opposition on 13 August, while 21 members of Parliament joined Chan's opposition group.[6]

Personal life

Chan married Stella, Lady Chan in 1966 and has four children: Vanessa Andrea, Byron James, Mark Gavin, and Toea Julius. His son Byron Chan was Member of Parliament for Namatanai Open electorate, covering the south of New Ireland from 2002 until 2017.[7][8]

References

1. "PM O'Neill will not resign until Court interprets the rules on VoNC", Papua New Guinea Today, 27 May 2019
2. "Life’s a mystery – Sir J speaks about his 80 years", The National (Papua New Guinea), 06 September 2019.
3. "Hon. Julius Chan, MP - Ninth Parliament of Papua New Guinea". www.parliament.gov.pg.
4. "Hon. Julius Chan, MP". National Parliament of Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
5. "Chan nominee for PNG prime ministership". Radio New Zealand International. 2 August 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
6. "Michael Somare wins second term Papua New Guinea's prime minister", Associated Press (International Herald Tribune), 13 August 2007.
7. Alex, Tere (15 July 2017). "Chan out, Schnaubelt in". Loop PNG. Archived from the original on 16 July 2017.
8. "ABC Radio Australia". ABC Radio Australia. 19 July 2005. Archived from the original on 20 July 2005.