Ammon News - 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.

Results 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.

A 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.

“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.

Left-leaning parties including Labour are aiming to make the National Party coalition the first one-term government in nearly 50 years.
GOVERNMENT COULD TAKE WEEKS

While the Electoral Commission expects ​to report preliminary results from 50% of voting places by 10 p.m. (0900 GMT), there ​may be no new government until after official results are released on November 27 and coalition negotiations ‌are ⁠concluded.

New Zealand's electoral system makes coalitions the norm, and the tightness of this year's race means one or more of the country's smaller parties will almost certainly participate in a governing coalition.

The country switched to a mixed member proportional system in 1996, which means ​people vote for both ​the party and ⁠a local constituency candidate.
There are 71 constituency seats and at least 49 party seats and a party or coalition needs a majority ​to form a government.

Special votes, which include those from overseas voters ​or people ⁠outside their electorate, will not be included in the vote count until November 27. Historically, special votes have favoured the left, with parties on the right losing support following the ⁠count.

New Zealand ​has emerged only slowly from a prolonged economic downturn, ​with growth subdued, household budgets strained and unemployment rising to 5.7% in the third quarter, its highest level ​in 11 years.


Reuters