Portal:Oceania/Selected article/December, 2009
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Sir Michael Thomas Somare, GCL, GCMG, CH, CF, MP (born 9 April 1936) has been Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea since 2002; he was previously Prime Minister from independence in 1975 until 1980 and again from 1982 until 1985. Somare's first two terms were as a member of the Pangu Party, but he is now leader of the National Alliance Party. He was re-elected as Prime Minister in the 2007 election.
During the seventeen years between his second and third terms as Prime Minister, Somare was appointed to political posts by other Prime Ministers. Somare served as Foreign Minister from 1988 to 1992 in the government of Rabbie Namaliu. Somare later served as Foreign Minister for a few months in 1999 and took this position again in July 2006. Somare is currently the Foreign Minister in addition to being the Prime Minister.
In March 2008 at the age of 71, Somare announced he would soon be stepping down from his position as Prime Minister, and ending his political career. He explained that, after forty years in politics, he simply "need[ed] a change" ("I don't think I have lost anything but the time has come"). In September 2008, Somare once again hinted at his upcoming retirement.