The centre-right opposition is expected to win the elections in New Zealand
The centre-right opposition is expected to win the elections in New Zealand
Voting in the New Zealand capital, Wellington
© Agence France-Presse
There are signs pointing to a clear and surprising victory for the opposition centre-right coalition in New Zealand’s parliamentary elections. According to initial projections, the National Party led by Christopher Luxon and its coalition partner ACT won 65 of the 120 seats in the New Zealand Parliament in the elections that took place on Saturday. The current ruling Labor Party is likely to suffer its worst electoral defeat ever, winning only 32 seats.
In 2020, the Labor Party achieved a landslide victory under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who took office in 2017. But Ardern resigned last January and was replaced by her party colleague Chris Hipkins. On the one hand, he does not have the charisma of Ardern, and on the other hand, he is criticized for New Zealand’s increasingly weak economic development.
During the campaign, both Hipkins and Luxon promised to ease rising fuel and food prices and combat the housing shortage. Conservative opposition leader Luxon wants to cut taxes.
“Coffee trailblazer. Social media ninja. Unapologetic web guru. Friendly music fan. Alcohol fanatic.”