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It’s the Alliance all over again.
Former Alliance deputy leader Sandra Lee says the likely naming of former colleague Laila Harre as leader of the Internet Party is a weird but brilliant piece of political strategy.
Under the deal struck between Internet millionaire Kim Dotcom’s new party and Mana, Ms Harre will be number two on the combined Internet Party list.
That gives her a good chance of getting back into Parliament if Mana leader Hone Harawira retains his Te Tai Tokerau seat.
It’s bad news though if Mana president Annette Sykes also wins Waiariki – that would mean the new alliance will need a lot more list votes to bring in extra MPs.
Ms Lee says Ms Harre would bring credibility and experience to new party, which in combination with with Mr Dotcom’s money and Mr Harawira’s existing support gives it a fighting chance.
The original Alliance brought together a number of smaller parties from different parts of the political spectrum.
It included Ms Lee’s Mana Motuhake and Jim Anderton’s New Labour, as well as the Greens and the Democrats, who were formed out of the old Social Credit Party.
Ms Harre worked recently as a Green Party strategist but left late last year to work for the Council of Trade Unions on a project to boost voter engagement.
Other prominent Alliance activists who are still involved in politics are Matt McCarten, who is now Labour leader David Cunlffe’s chief of staff, and former Alliance general secretary Gerard Hehir, who fills a similar role for Mana.
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd
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