3rd New Zealand party leader quits in close election race

21/8/2017 12:08

        Three weeks ago, New Zealand's conservative National Party appeared to be cruising to a fourth straight election victory. Opinion polls showed the party had strong support and the opposition was struggling to inspire people ahead of September's general election. But much has changed since then due to the rise of Opposition Leader Jacinda Ardern, and the latest polls indicate the election will be closely contested. The latest ruction came Monday, when United Future leader Peter Dunne resigned, the third party leader to quit in as many weeks. His small party supported the government and his move comes as a blow to Prime Minister Bill English and his National Party. Dunne said there's a mood for change in the district where he has served as a lawmaker for 33 years, something that's only become apparent in recent weeks. "The current political environment is extremely volatile and unpredictable," Dunne said in a statement. Although Dunne was United Future's only lawmaker, his party w
        as one of several minor parties that helped the government reach a ruling majority. English is campaigning on his party's economic success, pointing to solid GDP growth, strong employment numbers, and budget surpluses. His party had turned his somewhat dull image into a positive, portraying him as steady and dependable. But the campaign was transformed when Opposition Leader Andrew Little quit following dismal polling, allowing Ardern to step into the position. The 37-year-old's promise to run a progressive agenda with an optimistic outlook resonated with some voters. Opinion polls show a sharp rise in popularity for her Labour Party. A week after her appointment, Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei resigned, after confessing she committed welfare fraud as a struggling young mother more than 20 years ago. She made the confession as part of an effort to energize debate about the difficulties of living on welfare. But the move appeared to backfire, with the Green Party dropping in opinio
        n polls. Part of that may have been due to liberal voters switching to the Labour Party. Dunne struck a distinctive figure in Parliament with his favored bow ties and coif of white hair. He cast himself as a moderate who was willing to work with parties from either side of the aisle. His party won eight seats in the 2002 election but its fortunes waned after that. Dunne continued to hold senior roles in the government and is Minister of Internal Affairs. He seemed philosophical about the end of his career. "Good things cannot last forever," he said in his statement. "Now it is time for me to put all that behind me, take the election hoardings down, say goodbye to Parliament without bitterness or regret, and get on with life."