smaller than before and it eroded particularly when a debate erupted in 2018 about the benefits of natural resources projects for Papua New Guinea. Cabinets in PNG are awarded a grace period during the first 18 months in office during which time a vote of no confidence cannot be mounted. The grace period had passed in May 2019 and the question of a no confidence vote thereafter became pertinent. There were several attempts before the end of the grace period to replace O'Neill as prime minister. It was suggested to him to resign but O'Neill did not respond. However, MPs defected from the government benches the crucial date approached. This group included prominent cabinet ministers, for example James Marape, minister of finance and Davis Steven, the attorney general. The replacement of O'Neill On 7 May 2020 the rebels lodged the intention to mount of a vote of no confidence with Marape as alternate PM. They claimed to have a majority behind them (57 out of a 111 parliament). O'Neill resorted as before to parliamentary rules to procrastinate the vote of no confidence and suggested to adjourn parliament for three weeks. The opposition then mounted a motion to change the speaker of parliament who ruled in O'Neill's favour and this failed. Nevertheless, the vote split parliament (50-56). O'Neill obtained a nine-vote majority (59–50) supporting his proposed adjournment to stave off the vote of no confidence.The opposition appeared therefore to be short of numbers. O'Neill thereafter turned to the courts in an attempt to procrastinate with the argument that the no confidence motion could not be held as long as it was a case before the Supreme Court raising pertinent constitutional questions. The political configuration changed fundamentally when William Duma and the Natural Resources Party made a deciding move and joined the opposition: This raised the number in opposition to 62 and therefore they had a definite majority in the 111-member parliament. Paradoxically, the opposition seemed then to be in disarray. First, they withdrew the vote of no confidence motion. Second, they changed the leadership: Marape, the former finance minister was the alternate PM of the opposition until 28 May. He was then replaced by Pruaitch. This was announced by Marape and reported to be by consensus. However, later it was evident that there was a vote between Marape and Pruaitch in the favour of the latter. O'Neill then turned again to