Wingti, Paias (1951– )

Papua New Guinea centrist politician, prime minister 1985–88 and 1992–94. He became prime minister in November 1985 at the head of a five-party coalition. He championed Melanesian interests in both the South Pacific forum and the newly formed Spearhead Group, which also included Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, but with opposition mounting to his economic strategy and leadership style, he was defeated on a no-confidence motion in July 1988.

Wingti returned as prime minister following the June 1992 general election, heading a three-party coalition government, which included the centre-right People's Democratic Movement party (PDM) and the centre-left Pangu Pati (PP; Papua New Guinea Party). He instituted a drive against political corruption and crime, which had both increased during recent years, but was replaced as prime minister in August 1994 by Julius Chan. This followed a Supreme Court ruling that a snap re-election in June 1993, contrived by Wingti to prolong the government's period of immunity from a vote of no confidence, was invalid.

Born in Moika, in the Western Highlands, Wingto studied economics and politics at Port Moresby University. He joined the PP and, after being elected to the House of Assembly in 1977, served as minister of transport and then planning under prime minister Michael Somare during the later 1970s and early 1980s. He eventually became deputy prime minister in August 1982, but resigned in March 1985 to form the PDM.