What started as a 'moderate' money discrepancy involving political donations has escalated into a full blown scandal for Winston Peters, Minister of Foreign Affairs in NZ parliament and the leader of the coalition minor party holding the government together.
A story like this usually falls into the 11 day category-- it should have gone away in less than two weeks- WHY IS IT GOING ON SO LONG? It has escalated into a full blown feeding frenzy as more 'donations' retrospectively come out of the woodwork.
Peters has in the past managed to neutralise negative campaigns such as this-- but this time it looks like everybody (the other 7 political parties) are ganging up to try get rid of him in the lead up to the general elections in November. The article manages to get quotes from all the other opponents.
I have a personal interest in this story because I work for this party and it looks inceasingly likely I may not have a job when I return home in September. So I may be a bit biased. I really think Peters did not know the details of the dodgy donations. A Clintonian term in politics is 'plausible deniability'. Peters would have instructed his lawyer to accept donations on a 'i won't ask, you don't tell me" basis.... so I do not think he is lying when he says he did not know-- he never wanted to know.
A column by politico Richard Long comments why the story will not go away....
I emailed;
Richard,
am i going to have a job when i return?
anita
He replied;
Hi there Anita.
I think he will hold on. Its been a wild ride, but its dying off
Finally!!!
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