New Zealand election: Labour-Green coalition becomes possibility as ruling National Party loses majority

The ruling National Party in New Zealand faces a rising Labour-Green coalition, narrowing the gap between the three parties as the New Zealand final election comes to a close today.

Last week’s election results show that rising party New Zealand First, led by outspoken Winston Peters, holds the balance of power for a coalition.

Labour and Greens together took 54 seats against the National party, which won 56 seats in the election.  The three parties now rely on New Zealand First’s nine seats to obtain the 61 seats needed for a majority in the New Zealand Parliament.

The National party lost two seats to the Labour-Green bloc. The progress was touted by Labour leader Jacinda Ardern, who said that the “development buoyed [the party’s] position at the negotiating table.”

“We will continue our negotiations in earnest with potential support parties beginning this weekend,” Ardern told reporters in Auckland.

“This now means that we have a strengthened mandate to negotiate and form a durable, stable coalition government.”