According to the Prime Minister, tensions within the coalition had existed for some time, with the National Party allegedly using threats to withdraw from government in order to influence decisions. He claimed this created an environment where the government was effectively constrained from pursuing alternative policies, saying the National Party “effectively handcuffed and constrained us.”
The statement strongly criticised the National Party’s conduct, accusing it of engaging in “scheming” and “massive secret plots” that ultimately led to the collapse of the government. The Prime Minister argued that the party had prioritised potential political gain over stability, something he said would create further cycles of unstable governments in the future.
NotChocolatePlayz also framed the collapse as a setback to his broader political goal of ending the pattern of short-lived governments. He said that when he became Prime Minister, his primary objective was to restore stability and rebuild trust in the political system. The collapse of the coalition, he said, represents a departure from the commitments made at the start of the government by both parties.
Despite this, the Prime Minister said the government’s immediate focus would be on rebuilding and preparing for the next election. Alongside the statement, he also confirmed that a minor cabinet reshuffle would take place as part of the government’s next steps following the coalition’s collapse.
The full statement can be read here.