| Country: | Papua New Guinea |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Election Date: | 13 June-4 July 1987 |
| Previous Election: | 1982 |
| Next Election: | 1992 |
| Seats For Election: | All 109 seats in the National Parliament |
| Majority Seats: | 55 |
| Party1: | Pangu Pati |
| Leader1: | Michael Somare |
| Percentage1: | 14.93 |
| Seats1: | 26 |
| Last Election1: | 51 |
| Party2: | People's Democratic Movement |
| Leader2: | Paias Wingti |
| Percentage2: | 10.93 |
| Seats2: | 17 |
| Last Election2: | New |
| Party3: | National Party (Papua New Guinea) |
| Percentage3: | 4.97 |
| Seats3: | 12 |
| Last Election3: | 13 |
| Party4: | Melanesian Alliance Party |
| Leader4: | Michael Somare |
| Percentage4: | 5.62 |
| Seats4: | 7 |
| Last Election4: | 8 |
| Party5: | People's Action Party (Papua New Guinea) |
| Leader5: | Ted Diro |
| Percentage5: | 3.21 |
| Seats5: | 6 |
| Last Election5: | New |
| Party6: | People's Progress Party |
| Leader6: | Julius Chan |
| Percentage6: | 6.16 |
| Seats6: | 5 |
| Last Election6: | 14 |
| Party7: | Morobe |
| Leader7: | Utula Samana |
| Percentage7: | 2.23 |
| Seats7: | 4 |
| Last Election7: | New |
| Party8: | LNA |
| Leader8: | John Nilkare |
| Percentage8: | 4.83 |
| Seats8: | 3 |
| Last Election8: | New |
| Party9: | Papua Party |
| Leader9: | Galeva Kwarara |
| Percentage9: | 1.27 |
| Seats9: | 3 |
| Last Election9: | 0 |
| Party10: | United Party (Papua New Guinea) |
| Percentage10: | 3.19 |
| Seats10: | 1 |
| Last Election10: | 9 |
| Party12: | Independents |
| Leader12: | — |
| Percentage12: | 40.90 |
| Seats12: | 22 |
| Last Election12: | 4 |
| Prime Minister | |
| Before Election: | Paias Wingti |
| Before Party: | People's Democratic Movement |
| After Election: | Paias Wingti |
| After Party: | People's Democratic Movement |
General elections were held in Papua New Guinea between 13 June and 4 July 1987.[1] The Pangu Party emerged as the largest party, winning 26 of the 109 seats. Voter turnout was 73.5%.
None of the eighteen female candidates were elected, leading to the first all-male National Parliament in Papua New Guinea's history.[2]
Following the elections, all 22 elected independents joined parties, while two National Party MPs defected; the People's Democratic Movement (PDM) gained nine MPs, the People's Action Party eight, the People's Progress Party (PPP) five, and the Pangu Party and United Party one.[3] The three vacant seats were later won by the National Party, PDM and PPP.[4]
The newly elected Parliament met on 5 August to elect the Prime Minister. Incumbent Prime Minister Paias Wingti defeated former Prime Minister Michael Somare by a vote of 54 to 51.[5] Wingti formed a 25-member cabinet, with Minister of Education Aruru Matiabe also serving as Acting Foreign Minister due to the previous incumbent Ted Diro being accused of corruption during an ongoing inquiry.[6] [5] Diro was instead appointed as a minister without portfolio.[6]
| Wingti cabinet | ||
|---|---|---|
| Position | Minister | |
| Prime Minister | Paias Wingti | |
| Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Trade and Industry | Julius Chan | |
| Minister for Administrative Services | Johnson Maladina | |
| Minister for Agriculture and Livestock | Gai Duwabane | |
| Minister for Civil Aviation | Hugo Berghuser | |
| Minister for Communications | Gabriel Ramoi | |
| Minister for Corrective Institutions | Aron Noaio | |
| Minister for Defence | James Pokasui | |
| Minister for Education | Aruru Matiabe | |
| Minister for Environment and Conservation | Perry Zeipi | |
| Minister for Finance and Planning | Galeva Kwarara | |
| Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources | Alan Ebu | |
| Minister for Forests | Tom Horik | |
| Minister for Health | Tim Ward | |
| Minister for Home Affairs and Youth | Eserom Burege | |
| Minister for Housing | Tom Amaiu | |
| Minister for Justice | Albert Kipalan | |
| Minister for Labour and Employment | Masket Iangalio | |
| Minister for Lands and Physical Planning | Kalas Swokim | |
| Minister for Minerals and Energy | John Kaputin | |
| Minister for Police | Legu Vagi | |
| Minister for Public Service | Dennis Young | |
| Minister for Transport | Roy Yaki | |
| Minister for Works | Aita Ivarato | |
| Minister without Portfolio | Ted Diro | |