New Zealand gets hung parliament as Jacinda Ardern falls short in election
Source: Guardian
Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017
Labour and National court New Zealand First leader Winston Peter who becomes kingmaker for third time
The future of New Zealands new government has been put in the hands of Winston Peters, a cantankerous, anti-immigration politician who prefers fishing to politics, after vote counting finished in the general election.
Neither of the major parties National, led by the incumbent prime minister, Bill English, or Jacinda Arderns Labour secured enough seats to form a majority government in a frustrating poll on Saturday. National secured 46% of the vote, giving it 58 seats in parliament, while Labour took home 35.8% and 45 seats.
Both parties were scrambling to form coalitions with the minor parties in order to reach 61 seats and the ability to govern in the 120-seat parliament.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/sep/23/new-zealand-election-jacinda-ardern-bill-english-winston-peters-hung-parliament
Jacinda Ardern did well having been newly elected to lead the Labour Party just 7-weeks ago. She brought the party up by a considerable margin in just 7-weeks, I think it was from 23% to almost 36%. She was well liked and is a really smart, articulate woman. I was cheering for her from the USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?vS0c2OMV6puc