Defeat
By 1999, National was holding onto power via an unstable coalition of former New Zealand First (and one Alliance) MPs. By contrast, Labour had established a friendly working relationship with the Alliance. Labour leader Helen Clark had improved her public image, while Jenny Shipley had difficulty connecting with the public. A series of minor scandals concerning National's management of various state organisations helped Labour win nearly 39% of the party vote and 49 seats, compared to National's 30.5% (39 seats). Potential National allies Act and United won only 9 and 1 seats, respectively.
Read more about this topic: Fourth National Government Of New Zealand
Famous quotes containing the word defeat:
“Victory has a hundred fathers but defeat is an orphan.”
—Galeazzo Ciano (1903–1944)
“Life is essentially a cheat and its conditions are those of defeat ... the redeeming things are not “happiness and pleasure” but the deeper satisfactions that come out of struggle.”
—F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896–1940)
“And, “Better defeat almost,
If seen clear,
Than life’s victories of doubt
That need endless talk-talk
To make them out.””
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)