Labour Party head to be next New Zealand PM

Wellington Oct 19 (IANS) Political parties in New Zealand have agreed on a centre-left coalition government to be led by Labour Party head Jacinda Adern making her the country s third female Prime Minister.

The small New Zealand First Party became the kingmaker after September s indecisive election results and now has decided to side with the Labour Party to form the coalition government the BBC reported.

The vote had ended in a stalemate with neither the National Party led by incumbent Bill English nor Labour able to govern without a coalition partner.

The new coalition will also be supported by the Green Party.

"We had a choice to make … for a modified status quo or for change " New Zealand First Party head Winston Peters told reporters in Wellington ending nearly a month of political uncertainty.

"That s why in the end we chose a coalition government of New Zealand First with the New Zealand Labour Party."

New Zealand First holds the balance of power with nine seats a Labour-Green bloc controls 54 seats and the National Party 56 seats.

The announcement means Ardern 37 and the youngest-ever leader of New Zealand s Labour Party will oust Bill English as Prime Minister.

Peters decision to back a Labour government ends nearly a decade of National Party rule.

--IANS
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