Nationals own goal.
If National had taken the electoral commissions advice to reduce the MMP threshold to 4% they’d still be in government.
2017’s elections saw a hijacking of democracy that left a lot of kiwis scratching their heads over MMP, some get it, the majority doesn’t.
To govern you need stable minor parties as coalition partners.
The majority went to National on the day, 56 seats vs Labour’s 46, yet a vindictive politician whose party is really just a vehicle to fuel his narcissism held the country to ransom.
Winston held the balance of power at 7.2% of the vote. All though the country voted for anyone but labour, the revengeful prick went into government with the socialist left betraying a lot of his core party members.
Labour ran a smart strategy against the Maori party stealing crucial votes and ultimately killing off Nationals coalition party, Epsom ACT voters got the message and played the sure thing card with David Seymour, the bulk going back to the Nats.
Here’s the thing, if National had dropped the threshold to 4% in their 9 years of government and signalled a willingness to work with stable coalition partners they would still be in power.
Dropping the threshold allows more oxygen for the smaller parties to gain more votes and ultimately seats.
With Maori out of parliament completely, National are going to have to come together with the smaller parties to work on a strategy of stable, sensible & smart governance.
National need ACT more than ever, they also need the New Conservative’s and perhaps a show of willingness to work with TOP.
A commitment to reducing the MMP party threshold from 5% to 4% will only give the right more options to win.