Английская Википедия:1989 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election

Материал из Онлайн справочника
Перейти к навигацииПерейти к поиску

Шаблон:Use dmy dates Шаблон:Infobox election

The 1989 New Zealand Labour Party leadership election was held to determine the leadership of the New Zealand Labour Party. The leadership was won by Шаблон:NZ electorate link MP and incumbent deputy leader Geoffrey Palmer.

Background

David Lange had been leader of the Labour Party since 1983 and Prime Minister since 1984. Roger Douglas had been a key ally of Lange and was Minister of Finance in the Fourth Labour Government until growing divisions between Lange and Douglas over the Government's economic policy (Rogernomics) led to the latter's resignation from the Cabinet in December 1988. A week later, Douglas tried to replace Lange as Labour leader, but failed.

Division in the Labour Party continued through 1989. According to Michael Cullen, the then Minister for Social Welfare, most of caucus wanted both Lange and Douglas in Cabinet with a peace deal.[1] On 3 August 1989, the caucus voted to return Douglas to the cabinet. In response, Lange resigned as leader, interpreting the caucus's support for Douglas as a sign of no-confidence in him.Шаблон:Sfn

Former Labour leader and Prime Minister Sir Wallace Rowling was saddened to hear of Lange's resignation. He felt the caucus made a significant error in re-electing Douglas to cabinet stating that the vote indicated caucus was "bent on its own political destruction."[2]

Candidates

Geoffrey Palmer

Palmer was the Deputy Prime Minister, Attorney-General, Minister of Justice and Minister for the Environment. He stood for the leadership feeling a sense of duty to do so as Lange's deputy. His image with the populace was one of distance to the publicly resented Rogernomics policies and was instead associated with Labour's more popular policies such as environmentalism, electoral reform and the nuclear-free stance.Шаблон:Sfn Many in the party, particularly the newer caucus members, hoped this would allow Labour's popularity to heal and rebrand the party along more positive lines.Шаблон:Sfn Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke backed Palmer for the leadership.[3]

Mike Moore

Moore was the Minister of Overseas Trade and one of the senior cabinet ministers in the government and was ranked third in Labour's caucus. He was a supporter of the Rogernomics reforms, albeit less radical. As a result, he was seen as a more acceptable alternative leader to both Douglas and his supporters as well as critics of Douglas. In the lead up to the vote Moore claimed he could only hope to beat Palmer if he had a "clear run" against him, leading Douglas to withdraw.Шаблон:Sfn

Roger Douglas

Former Minister of Finance Roger Douglas (who had previously challenged Lange for the leadership in 1988) also considered contesting the position. He later withdrew in favour of Moore upon realizing that he could not beat Palmer and concentrated on a bid for the deputy leadership. He lost this position to left-wing Health Minister Helen Clark by only a narrow margin.Шаблон:Sfn

Public opinion polling

Date Polling organisation Sample size Geoffrey Palmer Mike Moore
19 December 1988 89FM[4] 200 42.1% 57.9%

Result

A caucus vote was held on 8 August 1989. The result of the ballot saw Geoffrey Palmer win the leadership over Mike Moore 41 votes to 13.Шаблон:Sfn The result for the deputy leadership was far less decisive, with Helen Clark defeating Roger Douglas 29 votes to 25.Шаблон:Sfn

Leadership ballot

Candidate Votes %
style="background-color: Шаблон:Party color" | Geoffrey Palmer 41 75.92
style="background-color: Шаблон:Party color" | Mike Moore 13 24.08
Majority 28 51.85
Turnout 54 Шаблон:N/a

Deputy-leadership ballot

Candidate Votes %
style="background-color: Шаблон:Party color" | Helen Clark 29 53.71
style="background-color: Шаблон:Party color" | Roger Douglas 25 46.29
Majority 4 7.40
Turnout 54 Шаблон:N/a

Aftermath

Palmer led Labour for the next fourteen months, though struggled to repair the party's damaged image. Palmer retained Moore as third in the cabinet rankings and also gave him the coveted position of Minister of Foreign Affairs in early 1990. After it became clear that Labour could not win the next election, Palmer was replaced as leader by Moore only two months before the 1990 general election. Having Moore as leader was believed by many in the Labour caucus to give it better success at the polls.Шаблон:Sfn Palmer then decided not to stand for election in 1990 and retired from politics, remaining as Minister for the Environment (outside cabinet) until the election before returning to his academic career.

Notes

Шаблон:Reflist

References

Шаблон:New Zealand Labour Party Шаблон:Helen Clark