Voters desert New Zealand's main parties, echoing global shift away from the political establishment

New Zealand’s main parties suffered a major setback in the Saturday election, leaving Prime Minister Christopher Luxon likely to remain in power but with a coalition majority so slim that it could reshape control of ministries. Reuters reports both National and the main opposition Labour fell below 30% for the first time, losing votes to smaller parties on the left, right and centre. Preliminary Electoral Commission data suggests Luxon’s three-party coalition could govern with a majority of just two seats, but that edge may vanish when overseas and other special votes—about one seventh of the total—are counted on November 27. That could force Luxon to seek support from centrist Opportunity, potentially entering parliament for the first time.