Chief Sir Leo Dion GCL KBE CMG QPM (born 1950) is a Papua New Guinean politician.[1] He was the Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea from 2012 to 2017.[2][3]

He worked as a police officer before entering politics, and was awarded the Queen's Police Medal.[4]

Dion was first elected to the National Parliament in a by-election in 2000, for the East New Britain provincial seat. His election to the provincial seat also made him Governor of the East New Britain province, of which he was previously deputy governor. He has been re-elected continuously to the seat and governorship since then, most recently in 2012.[4]

Formerly a member of the National Alliance Party, he joined the Triumph Heritage Empowerment Party ("THE Party") prior to the 2012 general election. Following that election, Prime Minister Peter O'Neill appointed him Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Inter-Government Relations.[4] In June 2014, Dion joined O'Neill's People's National Congress Party.[5]

Dion lost his seat to former MP Nakikus Konga in the 2017 election.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Nominations By Electorate" (PDF). PNG Electoral Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 July 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  2. ^ "O'Neill's cabinet complete: Dion is Deputy PM". EMTV. 9 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b "PNG's deputy PM loses seat in latest election upset". Radio New Zealand. 22 July 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  4. ^ a b c "Hon. Leo Dion, MP", Parliament of Papua New Guinea; accessed 10 December 2016.
  5. ^ "PNG Deputy PM swaps parties", Radio New Zealand International, 8 July 2014
Political offices Preceded byBelden Namah Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea 2012–2017 Succeeded byCharles Abel National Parliament of Papua New Guinea Preceded byFrancis Koimanrea Member for East New Britain Provincial 2000–2017 Succeeded byNakikus Konga
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