The country has spoken and it has given all parties a tough political assignment.
It has awarded the Clark Labour Government a second term but not with the single party majority it had every reason to expect when Helen Clark called an early election.
Instead, she faces a choice she will
find invidious, if she wants to form a majority coalition -- and she should. Minority government is not a formula for sound, well-programmed and consistent policy.
For a majority coalition she would need to strike a deal with either the Greens, who would hold her to ransom on genetic modification, New Zealand First, whom Labour does not trust, or United Future, whose religious character might present difficulties.
The Greens and United Future look the most likely partners, and it is to be hoped that United Future is chosen.
The Greens, despite the plea of co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons on election night, do not offer a stable prospect. The ultimatum to maintain the GE moratorium would haunt any attempt to form a workable Labour-Green coalition from the outset.
But there is a further reason to prefer a partnership with United Future. The voters registered a preference for Labour to find partners to the centre rather than to the left. To defy that signal would be political folly.
Campaign in-fighting between the Greens and Labour brought about that result, and it must be heeded.
A Labour-United coalition is the Government the voters plainly want for the next three years.
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Graphic: Seats in the 47th Parliament
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