Wellington, Aug 12 (IANS) New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has survived a second caucus confidence vote in four months, but the leadership challenge has highlighted growing political pressure on his National Party less than three months before the country’s General Election on November 7.
Luxon said on Wednesday he had the “full support” of his caucus and would remain leader of the governing National Party following an hours-long meeting at parliament in the capital Wellington.
He called the meeting amid speculation over his leadership after a series of political missteps and clashes, including his “parent-child” comment about businesses, his use of a military plane for travel to Auckland, and his proposal to hold a referendum on the country’s Mixed-Member Proportional (MMP) electoral system if re-elected.
The leadership challenge came as National faces a highly competitive election contest. A Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll released on August 7 put National’s support rate at 31 per cent, up 0.5 percentage points from its previous poll, with the National-led coalition projected to retain a narrow parliamentary majority.
A Radio New Zealand-Reid Research poll in July, however, put National’s support rate at 28.7 per cent, its lowest level since Luxon became party leader in 2021, Xinhua news agency reported. A 1News Verian poll released Wednesday, conducted ahead of the caucus confidence vote, put the opposition Labor Party’s support rate at 30 per cent, ahead of National at 29 per cent, while Luxon’s preferred Prime Minister rating fell one point to 17 per cent.
Luxon led National to victory in the 2023 election. But the party now faces pressure over the economy, the cost of living and public services, while Labor is seeking a comeback.
For Labor leader Chris Hipkins, the election represents an opportunity to return to government after the party’s defeat in 2023. But Labor must also contend with competition from the Greens and the Maori Party for the wider center-left votes.
New Zealand’s annual inflation rose to 4.1 per cent in the June quarter, above the Reserve Bank’s 1-3 per cent target range, while unemployment has remained elevated. The government is also under pressure to control spending and return the budget to surplus.
Cost of living, housing affordability, healthcare and infrastructure are expected to be major issues in the upcoming election. National is likely to campaign on economic recovery, spending restraint, law and order and infrastructure investment, while Labor has focused on household costs, healthcare, jobs and housing.
Maori issues are also expected to feature prominently. The government’s approach to the Treaty of Waitangi and proposed changes to Treaty principles have generated strong opposition from Labor, the Greens and the Maori Party.
Other campaign flashpoints are likely to include immigration, climate and energy policy, crime and gang legislation, and the future of the MMP electoral system.
With polls pointing to a tight race and smaller parties potentially holding the balance of power, the upcoming election is shaping up as a major test of New Zealand’s economic direction, public services and political future.
–IANS
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