A centre-left government with a Green Party component offers more stability than any government depending on New Zealand
First Leader Winston Peters.
That's according to Green Party Co-Leaders Jeanette Fitzsimons and Rod Donald today.
"While Mr Peters is hedging his bets, we are categorical we would support the formation of a centre-left government and
not a right-wing coalition involving National and Act," Mr Donald said.
"Green MPs in the next Parliament offer much greater certainty than New Zealand First holding the balance of power."
Ms Fitzsimons 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," she said. "This means parties should vote for the
policies they put to the electorate, not trade them away for cabinet positions.
"Parties should indicate before the election which other parties they expect to work with. Winston is trying to deny his
supporters any say over whether they will have a National- or Labour-led government."
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.
"The Green Party believes in MMP and would like to show New Zealanders that this voting system can work to give voters
more control, not less," Ms Fitzsimons said. "We don't need the binding coalition agreement that New Zealand First
entered in exchange for the Treasurer's position. We do need to give voters a clear indication before the election of
the main options for the structure of the next government."
ends