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New Zealand election: New Zealand is set to get a centre-right government after the Chris Hipkins-led Labor Party conceded defeat on Saturday. The outgoing prime minister has spent only nine months in the top post after taking over from Jacinda Ardern in January. With the majority of votes tallied, conservative former businessman Christopher Luxon’s National Party and its coalition partner ACT are projected to win 62 seats.
“Earlier this evening I called Christopher Luxon to congratulate him on the results of the Nationals. “As things stand, Labor is in no position to form another government,” Hipkins told supporters in Wellington.
The election campaign was dominated by the worsening economic situation and rising cost of living. Luxon said on Saturday that New Zealanders “reached out for hope and voted for change”.
With 97% of the vote, National received 39% while Labor trailed on 27%. According to the results, National can form a government with the 9% support of its ally libertarian ACT party. However, he may still need 6% support from the nationalist New Zealand First Party to reach a majority in Parliament.
Both parties had tried to woo voters with promises to reduce rising gasoline prices, fix chronic housing shortages and stem the skyrocketing prices of staple foods.
Ardern led the Labor Party to its first absolute majority since New Zealand switched to a proportional representation system during the last elections in 1996. The party’s support appears to have steadily declined – falling to 50% in 2020, one of its heaviest defeats. Forecasts point to 34 seats in New Zealand’s 120-seat parliament.
The election also sees the return of New Zealand First and its leader – 78-year-old Winston Peters. The nationalist New Zealand First was voted out of Parliament at the last election in 2020, but is currently above the 5% threshold needed to return to Parliament.
(with inputs from agencies)
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Updated: October 14, 2023, 05:04 PM IST
