Editorial on MMP manipulations

Very pleased to see an editorial today disapproving of what the Greens have been trying to do with manipulating List MPs in and out of Parliament. The NZ Herald opines:

The most widely disliked aspects of MMP are undoubtedly the lack of accountability of list MPs and the manipulation of party lists. The attempted elevation of Green Party co-leader Russel Norman to Parliament did nothing to improve that situation. This was to be achieved by Nandor Tanczos, a sitting MP, and Catherine Delahunty and Mike Ward, who were ahead of Dr Norman on the Greens’ party list, standing aside. The ranking of candidates, as voted upon at the last election, would have been set aside and Dr Norman would have attained the status and election-campaign advantages that come with being an MP.

It comes down to the fundamental issue that some parties see List MPs as serving the party only, not the wider public who voted for them.

Mr Ward’s opposition has stopped him in his tracks. Similarly shelved should be the notion that party lists can be manipulated to satisfy any whim.

One way to stop it would be to get rid of the ability for a candidate to refuse to take up their spot if they are the next List candidate. Sure they could still resign but parties would be far less likely to try and manipulate the system if a candidate they want out of the way had to be declared elected, sworn in as an MP, and then resign.