Election fever is building in the Cook Islands as residents await the pending announcement of a date for this year’s general election.
The Cook Islands holds its general elections every four years to elect 24 members of parliament.
The last election took place on 10 August 2022, meaning the current government is approaching the end of its term. The Cook Islands Party (CIP) has dominated the political landscape, ruling alone or through brokered alliances, since 2010.
But opposition leaders are hoping voters think it is time for a change.
The ruling CIP is on a significant winning streak, having held power now for 16 consecutive years.
Opposition and Democratic Party leader Tina Browne want a new government.
She is feeling confident due to the “negative press” surrounding Prime Minister Mark Brown in recent years regarding issues such as the failed Cook Islands passport idea and the recently mended rift with the New Zealand government.
“No doubt in my mind. I think they’ve (CIP) handled matters miserably in the last eight years, but especially in the last four years. The handling of the New Zealand relationship is one of them.”
However, she admits it “would be naïve to think any party could win outright, and her party is open to joining a coalition to form a government.”
Another opposition MP and United Party leader Teariki Heather agrees.
“My grandfather and my father, they used to have a bakery … because of that experience through baking bread when it gets stale, you don’t want to eat it again.
“So, it’s very similar, and also an example of the government of today has been in there too long. It’s time they move aside.”
But Brown, who is the leader of CIP, said that is up to the voters.
“Well, they (the opposition) need to convince the people if that’s their view, because it is the people that make the choice,” he said.
“We’ve been very confident in the management, the growth, the development of our country during our time as the government, and we want to assure our people that moving forward.
“We’re in a good, safe pair of hands.”
Political parties are already preparing to launch their election campaigns, but no date has yet been announced for the national election.
Browne said they need to be notified well ahead of time and she is questioning why a date has not yet been chosen.
“I actually have no idea why the secrecy. We talk about transparency, accountability, all of that. But I don’t really think that we know what the meaning is of transparency.
“Our situation, the Cook Islands, it’s known the prime minister will keep it close to his chest and will call it when it’s convenient to him.”
Heather said giving ample notice would give candidates and voters more time to prepare.
“We only wish that the Prime Minister could announce the date of the election… in our constitution, the Prime Minister is the only one that can call an election, he might call an early election, which I think it’s a wrong move.”
In response, Mark Brown told RNZ Pacific “an election date will be forthcoming but … timing is important”.
He added that parties are free to campaign regardless of when the date is set.
“There’s nothing to stop them campaigning now, and in fact, some are campaigning already.
“So, my message to them is, if they want to start campaigning for a longer period of time, please do so. It’s nothing that prohibits members or individuals or parties from starting their campaigns.”
Despite public uncertainty around timing, all sides say their preparations are already well underway.
The Democratic Party has been refining its policies and are looking to include responses to global conflicts.
‘We’re underway with preparations. We’ve got our policies in place,” Browne said.
“I have to say, we’ve had to just hold a bit and rethink, because we think that we should also put in something in the policies that would give our people some comfort, in case the war drags on.”
In contrast, the United Party has already launched its manifesto and begun introducing candidates to the public.
“[Campaign] progress is very very well. Early in the year, last year we planned – we started without policy, our manifesto,” Heather said.
“In 10 weeks, we’ve been able to adopt that and last Wednesday, we launched it.”
He said the party had “many people there in supporting” the launch. “But, for us, there’s more to come,” he added.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Brown has confirmed he will seek re-election this year but noted nothing is guaranteed.
“Yes, as the leader of the Cook Islands Party, I will be running again and leading our team into the coming elections.
“You don’t take anything for granted in politics, so we’ll be doing the hard yards as well.
“I will certainly be doing the hard yards and meeting our people and talking to them about the government’s current track record and how well we’ve been doing and also looking to the future and what we can expect.”
However, the opposition parties are hoping voters will opt for a change in leadership.
One Cook Islands Party declined RNZ Pacific’s request for an interview, saying its focus is on confirming the list of intending candidates.
