Bougainville’s Speaker of the House of Representatives, Simon Pentanu, has officially announced the dates for the 2025 Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) General Election. The writs for the election will be issued on Monday, July 7, 2025, in accordance with the Bougainville Constitution.
The election timeline follows the schedule set by Bougainville Electoral Commissioner Desmond Tsianai. Notably, the election is set to include five new single-member constituency seats, bringing the total number of seats in the fifth House to 46, which includes positions for a new president and speaker.
Key dates in the electoral process include:
– Writs issued: July 7, 2025
– Nominations open: July 8, 2025
– Nominations close: July 10, 2025
– Polling starts: September 2, 2025
– Polling Day: September 4, 2025
– Polling ends: September 8, 2025
– Counting starts: September 9, 2025
– Counting ends: September 21, 2025
– Writs returned: September 22, 2025
Pentanu emphasized the necessity of a lawful electoral process, expressing gratitude to the Bougainville Electoral Commission for its commitment to ensuring free and fair elections despite past challenges.
Moreover, Commissioner Tsianai acknowledged the collaborative efforts of various stakeholders, including the Bougainville Police Service and international partners, in facilitating these elections. He expressed optimism about the collective support leading to a successful electoral process in 2025.
In light of the recent concerns raised by Transparency International regarding the electoral processes in Papua New Guinea, particularly the challenges faced during the 2022 elections, the upcoming 2025 elections represent a crucial opportunity for Bougainville to implement reforms and enhance electoral integrity.
The focus on conducting fair elections can potentially lead to a more robust democratic environment, fostering public trust and participation in governance. As the election dates approach, the hope remains that efforts will translate into a credible and peaceful electoral experience for the residents of Bougainville.
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