In 2022, James Marape, prime minister of Papua New Guinea, and his government were re-elected. However, the national elections were characterized by electoral abuse and incidents of widespread violence and voter intimidation. Additionally, around 30-50% of prospective voters were unable to vote due to a lack of proper updates to the electoral roll. The elections did not meet minimum democratic standards.
While the economy was severely constrained during the COVID-19 pandemic, it began to recover, along with improved commodity prices. This recovery was further bolstered by higher oil and gas prices in 2022, providing the government with a valuable revenue boost.
Since 2019, the government introduced various reforms in social and governance areas. It established the long-awaited anti-corruption commission and implemented new public procurement rules, improved transparency for debt management, and enhanced financial management in the public sector.
