QR needs proof of command of majority

Speaking to the Herald on Tuesday, Sir Terepai Maoate revealed that two weeks ago the Queen’s Representative (QR) advised the Prime Minister against holding a snap election.
Sir Terepai said 2 weeks ago Democratic Party General Secretary John Tangi MP, informed him the PM wanted to call a snap election, but did not have the numbers. Sir Terepai said he gave the PM a guarantee of the numbers and the PM was going to see the QR and advise of his intention.
On Sunday night Sir Terepai said he got a message from Tangi, that came from PM. The PM did meet with the QR but whatever the details were Sir Terepai did not know. The PM told John Tangi the QR advised against calling a snap election. Sir Terepai said he left it at that. He said he wasn’t surprised, but thought it was something he should talk about. He felt the Pm was genuine to attempt that.
When calling a snap election, the PM is required under the Constitution to show he has the confidence of the majority of the House. The QR would need to be satisfied given the current murky political state,that the PM can clearly demonstrate that by way of possibly signed documents. The QR would be anxious to avoid a repeat of the situation in 2006. Back then, the CIP won a by election in Matavera which gave the opposition MPs the numbers to instigate a vote of no confidence in the PM. However,the day before parliament was due to sit, the PM called on the QR following which parliament was dissolved and a snap election called. The CIP then challenged the PM to prove he enjoyed the confidence of the majority of the House. The snap election went ahead amid a lot of legal opinions being aired.

Herald Issue 463 10 June
- World famous activist assisting residents
- Budget will decide if residents prosecute Government over landfill
- Forestry project sucking Mangaia dry
- Budget 2010 – fiasco or disaster?