On current polling the next government could be Labour + Green + NZF. That would annoy a lot of Nats if they have more votes than Labour alone, but that’s how MMP works. English lied about this in the last debate, but apparently has since walked it back. Audrey Young sums up:
Biggest party might not lead new Government
New Zealand heads to the polls tomorrow in one of the most uncertain election outcomes in memory, after one of the most gripping campaigns.
One thing is certain: either National or Labour could lead the next Government, no matter which party has the most seats after the votes are counted.
A suggestion by Prime Minister Bill English this week that the largest party gets the first chance to form a Government under New Zealand’s constitutional arrangements is not correct, and he has walked back from that.
The largest party under MMP has led the Government but any bloc of parties making up more than 50 per cent of the Parliament can actually form the Government. …
The Nats tried to take out NZF and have probably failed. Bad mistake, though who knows what Peters will actually do if he holds the balance. Let’s hope that the polls are underestimating the scope of the mood for change, and that Labour + Green (+ Maori?) can do it without him. Get out there and work for it people…
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