President Bolger

Jon Johansson’s alternate history has Jim Bolger denouncing Ruth Richardson and going on to win four terms. I’ll put aside for now the lack of focus on the economic side (people forget that in 1990 NZ was facing fiscal disaster with its debt and deficit) and the likilihood of bankruptcy to summarise the political:

* Bolger rejects Ruth’s 1991 budget proposals
* Ruth quits as Finance Minister
* Bolger soars in polls
* National wins 1993 election easily
* Clark rolls Moore as Labour Leader
* MMP rejected in referendum
* Moore rolls Clark five months before 1996 election due to low poll ratings
* National wins power with reduced but comfortable majority in 1996
* Labour and Alliance merge to form New Labour
* Bolger narrowly wins 4th term and is seen as contender to be NZ’s first President

Amusing fiction, as always.