The two main parties were deadlocked in Saturday’s closely fought general election in New Zealand, with the rising cost of living and general economic problems the main issues.
The results, with 95 percent of votes counted, showed the ruling center-right National Party and the opposition Labor Party neck and neck with just under 30 percent of the vote.
The National Party held a slight lead of around 3,500 votes more than Labor on Saturday evening.
Prime Minister calls for ‘path’ to power while opposition calls for ‘common ground’
Outgoing Prime Minister Cristopher Luxon, who leads the National Party, said his party “is once again the largest party in Parliament and we have the path to form the next government.”
The National Party currently governs in coalition with the pro-business ACT party and the right-wing populist New Zealand First. According to preliminary results, the three parties are expected to win a total of 67 seats in Parliament, which represents a very slim majority.
Labor leader Chris Hipkins said New Zealand politicians should find “common ground” after results showed neither his party nor the ruling National Party were likely to form a governing majority on their own.
“New Zealand has spoken. It may take us a little longer to understand exactly what you have said,” Hipkins told his supporters.
“Our next Parliament is going to require us all to compromise, work together and find common ground.”
What you need to know about New Zealand’s election results
Special votes, including those cast by people from abroad, must be counted over the next three weeks. The votes generally benefit left-wing parties and have changed preliminary election results in the last three elections.
The final results are expected to be published on November 27.
If the right-wing bloc fails to maintain its slim majority, the centrist Opportunity party could play the role of kingmaker. The party is expected to obtain seven seats, which would allow it to exceed the 5% threshold to enter Parliament for the first time since its creation in 2017.
Luxon has previously ruled out any cooperation with Opportunity Party.
New Zealand has a mixed-member proportional system that requires voters to check two options: a party and a candidate in local elections.
Electorate winners gain a seat in Parliament, which typically has 120 seats, unless a so-called “surplus” leads to more lawmakers being re-elected to Parliament, along with the party’s highest-ranking members based on their national party vote.
Preliminary results on Saturday showed Parliament was expected to reach 130 seats due to excess seats, making it the largest parliament in New Zealand’s history.
The vote took place against a backdrop of high commodity prices and the highest unemployment in more than a decade.
The vote took place under New Zealand’s strict laws banning media reporting and political campaigning on the final day.
New Zealanders have, however, been able to vote since October 26, with almost 1.7 million of the country’s 3.8 million eligible voters having already cast their ballots as of Thursday, according to the Electoral Commission.
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