Green voters say Greens should accept a coalition with National
Duncan Garner reports:
We asked voters that if John Key opened the door to a formal coalition deal with the Greens – should the Greens say yes.
- 55 percent said yes
- 30 percent said no
But a breakdown of the votes into a party-by-party basis tells a different story.
Amongst Green voters:
- 60 percent said yes
- 27 percent no
Amongst National voters:
- 63 percent said yes
- 25 percent said no
This shows remarkable support for a formal deal – from both National and Green voters.
So both National and Green voters say by at least 2:1 that the Greens should accept a coalition deal if John Key offers one. That will give the Greens food for thought.
If a Labour-led Government is viable, I have no doubt the Greens will put Labour into power in preference to National.
But if, as looks likely, National is the only viable Government for the next three or longer years, then what do the Greens do? Do they continue with their discrete policy co-operation agreement, or if the PM offers something better do they accept it?
What if Key offered Norman and Turei portfolios, in return for the Greens abstaining on confidence and supply? Not voting for the Government, but not voting against it on the twice a year confidence and supply votes. On all other votes they can vote against. Would that be a price worth paying for Norman to be Minister of Public Transport and Kevin Hague to be Minister of Public Health?
Of course, whether Key would make such an offer is quite another matter. However it is in his nature to work with people rather than against people. He has already said he will do coalition agreements with United Future, ACT and the Maori Party, even if he has an absolute majority. So will he offer the Greens something beyond what he did in 2008?