With the National party as much as 20 points a head of the government for many months, there was both relief and concern depending on your political allegiances. Tonight two different polls have been released one puts the government 3 points behind and the other shows a gap of six points. What has changed? Well I believe the public are a lot more astute than the politicians often think. Members of the opposition have spoken out of turn, been less than forthcoming, over promised and under delivered. The race is well and truly on now and it looks as if it will be the minor parties who will be called on to form a coalition that will be the key to the make up of the new government.
Is the recession over or just on hold?
The economists, who comment for the news media, today stated that “there are indications that the current down turn in the economy is over”. They predict the New Zealand economy will move in a positive direction from now, on gradually recovering in the medium to long term. The more stable price of oil, the expected change in the weather, and the pending tax cuts all being contributing factors. Perhaps the main factor that is holding things back, is the imminent general election. Polls to date have suggested that a new right government will be elected. The recent lack of political acumen on the part of opposition members and their new leader have tended to shadow this inevitability. MMP means that unless the governing party gains a very large portion of the vote they can not govern alone. For the right to form a coalition may be difficult particularly now the leader has ruled out one of the more significant minority parties…..