Somare, Michael (Thomas) (1936– )

Papua New Guinean centre-left politician, chief minister 1972–75, and prime minister 1975–80 and 1982–85. He founded the the pro-independence centre-left Pangu Pati (PP; Papua New Guinea Party) in 1967. After independence in 1975, Somare headed a coalition government. He was forced to resign in the wake of a government corruption scandal. His coalition government of 1982 fell apart after the deputy prime minister, Paias Wingti, resigned to join forces with the opposition, and Somare's tax-raising budget strategy came under attack. Somare was defeated on a no-confidence vote and Wingti became prime minister. He was knighted in 1990.

In 1988 Somare stepped down as PP leader and became foreign minister in the government of Rabbie Namaliu, and remained in this post until 1992. He resigned from the PP in 1993 and later formed the National Alliance (NA) to campaign against corruption. The NA polled strongly in the June 1997 general election, but Somare failed to win the premiership.

Born in Rabaul, in East New Britain Province, the son of a police sergeant, Somare was educated at Sogeri High School. He worked initially as a teacher 1956–62 and then a journalist 1966–68. He was elected to the house of assembly a year later and in 1972 became chief minister.