New Zealand’s ruling National Party launched its election campaign yesterday engulfed in a furore over underhand tactics, less than four weeks before the country goes to the polls.
A newly published book, based on e-mails hacked from the computer of a right-wing blogger, alleges the center-right government of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and the blogger co-operated in a sustained “dirty tricks” campaign.
Opinion polls show the book has had a negative impact on the government, but does not seem to be enough, yet, to tarnish Key’s chances of winning a third term in office.
Photo: AFP
Key’s government has enjoyed strong public support, buoyed this year by delivering the country’s first budget surplus in six years.
While the National Party currently governs with the support of a handful of minor parties, some polls suggest it could govern in its own right after this election, a situation unprecedented since New Zealand adopted a German-style mixed-member proportional (MMP) electoral system in 1996.
However, in his campaign opening speech, Key urged his party faithful not to be complacent, arguing nothing could be taken for granted with several minor opposition parties working to collectively claim more than 50 percent of the vote.
“Despite being low in the polls, it’s still possible for Labour to cobble together a government with the Greens, [Kim] Dotcom and others, because that’s how the maths might work,” he said.
“So everyone who wants National to lead the next government has to get out there on September 20 and party vote National. They should have total confidence in doing that,” he added in a veiled reference to the controversial book, Dirty Politics.
Key has previously dismissed allegations made in the book written by Nicky Hager that one of his former staffers ran a “dirty tricks” campaign from his office which involved feeding information to right-wing blogger Cameron Slater and accessing a Labour Party database. He described Hager as a “left-wing conspiracy theorist.”
Key, 53, has adopted a mostly moderate center-right agenda since he took office in 2008, preferring to ditch controversial policies such as allowing mining in national parks rather than risk spooking the electorate. The former banker also won credit for steering the nation through the global financial crisis and a devastating earthquake in Christchurch in 2011.
Yet Key’s greatest asset is his personal popularity, with his support as preferred prime minister at about 45 percent in recent polls, a figure which has rarely dipped below 40 percent since he took office in 2008.
In the Dominion Post last week 61 percent of respondents rated him the leader they would prefer to have a beer with, compared to 27 percent for Labour leader David Cunliffe.
National have centered their re-election strategy around Key’s image, promoting “Team Key”, using a presidential-style campaign focused squarely on his leadership.
His main rival Cunliffe, a former diplomat and business consultant, appears to have failed to connect with voters since becoming Labour leader in September last year. Cunliffe’s party support is around 25 to 30 percent in the most recent polls, while his personal popularity languishes at about 10 percent.
Yet such is the unpredictability of MMP that Cunliffe could find himself a shock victor if he forms an alliance with the Greens, then gains enough support from other minor parties to cobble together a center-left coalition.
The Internet-Mana party, backed by Megaupload founder Dotcom, looms as a wild card, while populist former New Zealand deputy prime minister Winston Peters’ New Zealand First could find itself in the role of kingmaker, potentially leading to weeks of horsetrading and negotiations over who will form the government.
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