A former Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Sir Mekere Morauta, says he was shocked by Mr Sogavare's interference in PNG politics during his brief stopover in Port Moresby.
The former Prime Minister warned the Solomon Islands prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, to keep out of PNG politics after publicly backing Sir Michael Somare to win in forthcoming elections.He says he finds it somewhat disturbing that a Prime Minister could publicly declare his preferred counterpart before elections were to be held. Mr Sogavare recently stated in a PNG newspaper that he wants to see Sir Michael return as prime minister following the upcoming elections.
The Opposition has also come out strong against the Prime Minister's recent public statement. Speaking on behalf of the Opposition group Hon. Edward Huniehu describes Prime Minister Sogavare's action as a bad precedent.
"He (Sogavare) is putting the Solomon Islands Government in an awkward situation in the event of a new Executive Government taking over power after the elections" said Huniehu. "Such public outburst of support for Sir Michael was uncalled for"