The Labor Party led by the Prime Minister has won an absolute majority in the New Zealand Parliament / Article / LSM.lv

The Labor Party, led by New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jindind Ardern, has won a convincing parliamentary election on Saturday. From now on, the Social Democratic force will have an absolute majority in the legislature, which will allow Labor to form a government without coalition partners.

Ardern-led center-left Labor has achieved historic success in the election. Almost 50% of those who went to the polls voted for the ruling party, which will give Labor an absolute majority in the 120-member parliament. 64 seats are predicted for the winners. Something like this has happened for the first time since the introduction of the mixed electoral system in New Zealand in 1996, the New Zealand Herald reports.

In his victory speech for the second term, Ardern thanked the New Zealanders for their support and promised to be the prime minister of the entire population. Ardern also praised the people of New Zealand for their strong commitment to democracy, not populism.

“We live in an increasingly polarized world. In a place where more and more people are losing the opportunity to hear other people’s opinions. I hope that in this election, the people of New Zealand have shown that we are not.

We are a nation that can listen and debate. There are too few of us to not listen to the thoughts of our fellow human beings, ”Ardern said.

Analysts believe the key to Labor’s convincing success was the Ardernan government’s decisive action in the wake of the Covid-19 coronavir pandemic. Timely, strict gathering and movement measures helped to stop the spread of the virus within the country. At present, in New Zealand’s population of 5 million, people no longer have to wear face masks or social distancing.

The international community sees Ardern as one of the most influential voices in liberal democracy at a time when US President Donald Trump, the world’s most powerful democracy, favors isolationism and protectionism.

Until now, parties had to form coalitions after the election to form a government. After winning the 2017 election, Labor formed a government with two more parties. But this time it won’t be. For the next three years, Ardern will be able to implement the progressive reforms planned by his party. Labor has pledged to increase access to housing, increase the use of renewable energy, invest in infrastructure and reduce child poverty.

The opposition Conservative National Party received 27% of the vote and 35 seats in parliament. That’s 21 chairs less than before.

The parliamentary elections in New Zealand were accompanied by referendums on the legalization of marijuana and euthanasia on Saturday. The results of these votes will be published on 30 October.

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