Economist magazine reports on Peters scandal

Scoopit!

Not how Adam wanted to see New Zealand referred to in the pages of The Economist, a leading international weekly journal, read by many politicians and opinion formers globally:-

WITH an election due by mid-November, and her Labour Party trailing the centre-right National Party in the polls, the last thing Helen Clark, New Zealand’s prime minister, needed was a scandal. But on August 29th she had to accept the temporary resignation of Winston Peters, the foreign minister, and leader of her coalition partner, New Zealand First (NZF), while accusations against him are investigated.

The Economist calls the affair a scandal under the headline ‘Money Muddles‘.A brief description of the Peters saga then:-

The affair highlights the trickiness of New Zealand’s mixed-member-proportional (MMP) political system. After the 2005 election, centre-left Labour was forced to seek NZF support to form a government. The two are not natural partners.

The article suggests Clark has been tainted by association with Peters. It notes Peters is a cunning maverick, Clark looks weak and that Key has been able to look principled:-

Mr Peters, a cunning maverick, has managed comebacks before. But the affair has hurt Labour. Miss Clark looks weak for not having sacked Mr Peters sooner. The National Party has the high ground: John Key, its leader since 2006, has declared that it will not form a government with Mr Peters. Mr Key, a 47-year-old former banker, had suffered from a lack of political experience and an image as a city slicker. Now he has managed to look principled.

The piece notes:-

Miss Clark, who has led three governments since 1999, has proved an adept coalition builder. National is also gaffe-prone

You can say that again. Leaving policy documents where Trevor Mallard can get them is downright careless.

Having Winston Peters in your government is not a good look internationally.

As yet though it does not seem to have really hurt Clark and Labour on the domestic front.