Greens offer stability
A centre-left government with a Green Party component offers more stability than the last National government which was held to ransom by New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters.
That's according to Green Party Co-Leader Jeanette Fitzsimons, who today welcomed the news that the Greens are polling around six per cent in TV One and TV Three polls released last night.
That would translate into at least seven Green MPs in parliament.
"Green MPs in the next Parliament offer much greater certainty than any government where New Zealand First was holding the balance of power," Ms Fitzsimons said.
She said the Green Party aimed to make MMP work the way it was meant to.
"Votes cast in Parliament should reflect votes cast in the election.
"This means parties should vote for the policies they put to the electorate, not trade them away for cabinet positions."
Coalitions or agreements on confidence should be structured around an agreed policy programme, with parties free to vote separately on issues where they disagree, she said.
"This provides accountability as well as stability."
Labour and the Alliance were advocating a
similar position, she
said.