The Velvet Revolution

Yes, Prime Minister

Down under we are witnessing the strangest thing.  Over the last few months we have had a major constitutional change--a velvet revolution, one may say.  The NZ Prime Minister has morphed from being the leader of the governing parliamentary majority, and, therefore, of the country.  Without fanfare or notice, her office has evolved  into being that of the "constitutional leader", much more akin to the Constitutional Monarchy in the UK.

She is the leader de jure, whilst the office of leader de facto has gone to someone else.  We now have a "throne" and a "leader behind the throne"--at least that is how it seems.  This development is unparalleled in our democracy.  Jacinda Ardern has become a figurehead like George VI, whilst the Deputy Prime Minister, Winston Peters has become like Winston Churchill. 

Here are a couple of examples.  The titular PM (Jacinda Ardern) announces that the Government will pursue its ambition to double New Zealand's annual refugee quotas.  The de facto PM (Winston Peters) says it will not.  A few days later, the titular PM mumbles her consent, having taken the advice of the de facto PM.


Secondly, the Labour Party continues to push forward its radical, reactionary Industrial Relations Bill.  De Facto PM, Winston Peters says, "Not so fast".  Minister Iain Lees Galloway, sponsor of the legislation, says to the media (when questioned on the matter) that as far as he knows the legislation is still going ahead.

Jacinda Ardern is quiet, as would be entirely appropriate for a Constitutional Monarch.  It underscores how rapid and how deep the constitutional revolution in New Zealand has been.  Ardern presumably believes that she cannot deny Peters anything of substance.  Consequently, the office of Prime Minister has become little more than an honorific title.

We have never seen anything like it.

For the record, some of the things Peters has stood up for, denying Ardern and her radical Labour Party, we support.  But the way it has been done and the constitutional ramifications going forward may change our democracy and system of government forever. 

Peters is the archetypical éminence grise, a real life version of Humphrey in Yes, Prime Minister.  Comedic fiction has become the dangerous reality way down under, in New Zealand.