New Zealand opposition wins poll

[muriel_volestrangler]

Source: BBC

New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark has admitted defeat in a general election and says she will step down as leader of the Labour Party.

John Key's centre-right opposition National Party won 45% of the vote, against 34% for Labour, according to preliminary results.

Election officials say this will give National 59 seats, just short of the 61 needed for a majority in parliament.
...
National could look to the Maori Party to form a government, analysts say.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/7717014.stm

---

Sad - she seems to have done a good job, from what I can tell. But the global recession makes it difficult for any incumbent to win, I think.

I see the new guy is "a multimillionaire former currency trader". Poacher turned gamekeeper, I hope, rather than a mole.

[brettdale]

1. Yep John Key is our New Prime Minister

He is from our right wing party, but hes very very centred, so its not to big of a problem.

[rpannier]

2. I watch ABC TV (Asia-Pacific)

and was surprised when I finally learned she was Labour.
From the stories they ran, she seemed disturbingly similar to John Howard on a lot of economic issues.

Was she that conservative on trade and economics, or was it just "the luck of the draw" as it were. That I turned on the TV (usually Sunday morning) when they were discussing her economics that seemed right wing?

[wysi]

8. Yeah, Brett...

... except now we have to deal with Rodney Hide and Act wanting to sell the beaches to developers. That will kind of put a damper on our Christmas holidays in Nelson*, don't you think?


*In the interest of full disclosure, Brett's my brother-in-law. :)

[Swagman]

3. I think both major NZ parties are fairly "central"..remember, NZ

won't allow any nuclear carrying ships to dock there and both major parties endorse that.

As for being like that creep John Howard..no fucking way..Helen Clark just humoured the right wing bastard.

[BunkerHill24]

4. New Zeland currency is showing of no difference in the markets!!!!!

Wonder why!!!!

[IndianaGreen]

5. Jewish and conservative, New Zealand's elected PM promises change

Jewish and conservative, New Zealand's elected PM promises change

By Sefi Krupsky and The Associated Press

"New Zealand has voted for change," said conservative National Party leader John Key on Saturday after winning the elections in the country, ending nearly a decade-long Labor rule.

The liberally-oriented economist is the son of a Jewish woman who fled Nazi persecution. Widely considered as the wonder boy of New Zealand politics, he defeated Prime Minister Helen Clark by a 12 percent margin.

Key campaigned on a platform of change, invoking the mantra of U.S. President-elect Barack Obama, and just like him, he is 47 and member of a minority group. His mother, Ruth Lazar, is a key activist in New Zealand's minute Jewish community.

Clark, one of the world's longest-serving female leaders, conceded defeat with nearly all of the vote counted, telling supporters that "tonight is not our night."

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1035409.html

[anakie]

6. and once again the Greens disappoint

every election down under (NZ and Australia, state and federal) the Greens always poll well in the lead up to an election but always poll badly on the day. This time they got about 6.5% of the vote when some pundits on the election coverage predicted 10%+.

The last Australian federal election was the same. Around 6% when polling showed they may get the balance of power in the Senate.

Is there a Bradley Effect concerning the Greens?


Peace

[wysi]

7. The Greens were hurt...

... by their support of the Emissions Trading Scheme, which will most likely be scrapped under National. It would have cost families and individuals quite a bit of money in increased levies over the next several years.