Conservative parties sweep to power in New Zealand election

AFP | Wellington

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

New Zealanders resoundingly elected a new conservative government yesterday, with incumbent Prime Minister Chris Hipkins conceding his centre-left Labour party’s six years in power were over.

Hipkins, who replaced charismatic two-term leader Jacinda Ardern in January, said he was “not in a position to form a government” and had already congratulated premier-in-waiting Christopher Luxon.

“The result tonight is not one that any of us wanted, but I want you to be proud of what we achieved over the last six years,” Hipkins told Labour supporters in Wellington.

The National Party and its coalition partner ACT were projected to win 61 seats with 97 percent of the vote tallied -- enough to secure a majority in New Zealand’s 120- seat parliament.

“On current numbers, it looks like National and ACT will be in position to form the next government,” Luxon added.

The former airline executive said New Zealanders had “reached for hope and voted for change”.

The election campaign had been dominated by an increasingly difficult economic situation and a spike in the cost of living that has hit New Zealanders hard.

“My pledge to you is that National will deliver for every New Zealander,” Luxon said, promising to “build the economy and deliver tax relief”.

The 53-year-old, who claims to sleep only five hours a night, completed a rapid political ascent.

Only four years ago he was working in the private sector.