Originally Posted by
Blue Skies
You would think Luxon would negotiate away major policy sticking points in return for the prized Deputy PM role.
If Seymour gains the Deputy PM, he would have to surrender the Treaty Referendum, and if Winston gains the Deputy PM role he would have to surrender the Foreign buyers ban. Which leader & party wants it more?
If it goes to Winston, National & NZF will be perceived as the senior partners in the coalition, and if it goes to Seymour - National & ACT will be seen as the senior partners.
In Luxon's absence the Deputy PM represents all 3 parties in the coalition i.e. you could have Winston representing ACT, or Seymour representing NZF, neither will like that.
And now that its out they both want it, they def won't want to be seen as 'a loser' !
However, since Luxon's already announced all the parties policies have been agreed & signed off, presumably he can't use that as leverage.
Unless he already did a deal with Seymour privately, always a possibility & now having problems getting Winston to agree to Seymour being Deputy PM. ( pure conjecture on my part)