New Zealand Turns Right
The BBC prints the obituary: New Zealand opposition wins vote
New Zealand’s opposition National Party has swept to power, ending PM Helen Clark’s nine-year Labour government.
Ms Clark admitted defeat and said she would step down as leader.
National leader John Key said the people had voted for a safer, more prosperous and ambitious New Zealand, but warned of tough times ahead.
Correspondents say Ms Clark has presided over years of strong growth and social reforms, but the economy has gone into recession this year.
The centre-right opposition won 45% of the vote, against 34% for Labour, leaving it just short of an overall majority.
John Key made a lot of money under the “oppressive rules” of Clark’s Labour government, but he would rather go down the same road that is causing the worldwide recession. There is nothing like a recession after nearly a decade of prosperity to make people stupid. Look at the US in 2000.
