WELLINGTON — New Zealand’s ruling centre-right National Party and main opposition Labour were near deadlocked in the popular vote as counting began in the nationwide general election on Saturday.
\n\nResults from the Electoral Commission show that with 27.4% of the results counted, both parties were polling just short of 30% of the popular vote, with just a few thousand votes separating the two.
\n\nA projection from New Zealand’s Electoral Commission showed the current three-party ruling coalition led by National would have a majority of just one seat, after an election dominated by a struggling economy and voter disillusionment with the two biggest contenders.
\n\n“I think it’s going to take some time before that becomes clear,” David Seymour, leader of junior coalition party ACT, said when asked if the coalition can return to power.
\n\nLeft-leaning parties including Labour are aiming to make the National Party coalition the first one-term government in nearly 50 years.
\n\nWhile the Electoral Commission expects to report preliminary results from 50% of voting places by 10 p.m. (4 a.m. ET), there may be no new government until after official results are released on November 27 and coalition negotiations are concluded.
\n\nNew Zealand’s electoral system makes coalitions the…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/business