New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon Meets Opportunity Leader Qiulae Wong as Coalition Holds Two-Seat Majority in Preliminary Count
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said on November 10 that he had met the leader of the Opportunity Party, Qiulae Wong, on the evening of November 9. In New Zealand's general election on November 7, the Electoral Commission's preliminary results project that Luxon's incumbent three-party coalition of National, ACT and New Zealand First will hold a combined 67 of 131 seats, enough for only a narrow governing majority.
Preliminary data showed the coalition could govern with a majority of just two seats. But overseas and other special votes, which make up about a seventh of the total and typically skew left, will be counted in the final count on November 27, and the two-seat margin may disappear. That would mean Luxon needs the support of Opportunity, which looks set to enter parliament for the first time, to pass legislation.
Luxon had previously ruled out entering a coalition with Opportunity but has softened his stance after the initial count. Opportunity's flagship policies centre on tax, with a universal basic income for almost all residents funded by a land tax. Finance Minister Nicola Willis lost her parliamentary seat in the weekend election and serves only in a caretaker capacity, so Luxon must appoint a new finance minister by December 4, with 19 portfolios in total to be reallocated.
(Source: New Zealand Electoral Commission)
Source: New Zealand Electoral Commission
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
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