Vote Puts Populist in Kingmaker’s Seat

New Zealand’s biggest parties scrambled to form rival governing coalitions after parliamentary elections put a populist politician in the kingmaker’s seat. But Winston Peters, leader of the New Zealand First Party, which won 13% of the vote, fueled uncertainty by refusing to say which way his crucial support would go. Both the ruling National Party, which garnered 34% of the vote, and the leading opposition Labor Party, with 28%, say they need the support of New Zealand First to form a coalition government. Incumbent Prime Minister Jim Bolger will try to woo an old rival in Peters. Labor, however, wants Peters to join a center-left partnership. If successful, its leader, Helen Clark, would become the country’s first female prime minister.