紐西蘭大選首輪計票結束，兩大主要政黨幾乎陷入膠著

露西・克雷默（Lucy Craymer）與阿拉斯代爾・帕爾（Alasdair Pal）報導By Lucy Craymer and Alasdair Pal

威靈頓，11月7日（路透社）—— 紐西蘭週六舉行全國大選，初步開票後，執政的中間偏右國家黨與主要在野黨工黨在普選得票率上幾乎陷入膠著。WELLINGTON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - New Zealand's ruling centre-right National Party and main opposition Labour were nearly deadlocked in the popular vote after initial counting in the nationwide general election on Saturday.

選舉委員會公布的結果顯示，在超過95%的選票已完成開票後，兩黨普選得票率都略低於30%，雙方僅相差數千票。Results from the Electoral Commission show that with more than 95% of the ballots counted, both parties were polling just short of 30% of the popular vote, with just a few thousand votes separating the two.

紐西蘭選舉委員會的一項預測顯示，由國家黨領導的現任三黨執政聯盟將取得兩席多數優勢。這場選舉的主軸，是低迷的經濟以及選民對兩大主要競爭者的失望。A projection from New Zealand’s Electoral Commission showed the current three-party ruling coalition led by National would have a majority of two seats, after an election dominated by a struggling economy and voter disillusionment with the two biggest contenders.

兩黨都表示，最終結果出爐還需要時間。Both parties said it would take time for the final results to be known.

總理克里斯多福・盧克森在奧克蘭向支持者表示：「令人振奮的是，從目前數字來看，國家黨再次成為國會最大黨，而我們也有組成下一屆政府的途徑。」"It is heartening to see that on the numbers so far, National is once again the largest party in parliament, and we have a pathway to forming the next government," Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told supporters in Auckland.

「但我現在必須告訴各位，選情太接近，還無法判定結果。」"But I have to tell you right now, it is too close to call."

工黨黨魁克里斯・希普金斯在首都威靈頓東北方城市上哈特，也傳達了類似訊息。Labour leader Chris Hipkins delivered a similar message in Upper Hutt, a city northeast of the capital Wellington.

他對支持者說：「今晚，紐西蘭已經發聲。要確切弄清楚你們說了什麼，可能還需要我們多花一點時間。」"Tonight, New Zealand has spoken. It may take us a little bit longer to figure out exactly what it is that you've said," he told supporters.

組成政府可能需要數週GOVERNMENT COULD TAKE WEEKS

特別選票包括海外選民或不在其選區內投票者的選票，要到11月27日官方結果公布時，才會納入計票。Special votes, which include those from overseas voters or people outside their electorate, will not be included in the vote count until official results are released on November 27.

這些選票通常較有利於左派，右派政黨在這類選票開出後支持度會下滑。在工黨與國家黨候選人選情仍然緊繃的席次中，這也可能成為關鍵。Those votes have typically favoured the left, with parties on the right losing support following the count. This could also be key in seats where races remain tight between Labour and National candidates.

包括工黨在內的左傾政黨，正力拚讓國家黨領導的聯盟政府成為50多年來第一個僅執政一任的政府。Left-leaning parties including Labour are aiming to make the National-led coalition the first one-term government in just over 50 years.

紐西蘭的選舉制度使聯合政府成為常態，而今年選情緊繃，意味著該國一個或多個小黨幾乎肯定會參與執政聯盟。New Zealand's electoral system makes coalitions the norm, and the tightness of this year's race means one or more of the country's smaller parties will almost certainly participate in a governing coalition.

紐西蘭在1996年改採混合比例代表制，這代表民眾同時投給政黨以及地方選區候選人。The country switched to a mixed member proportional system in 1996, which means people vote for both the party and a local constituency candidate.

國會共有71個選區席次，以及至少49個政黨席次；一個政黨或聯盟必須取得多數，才能組成政府。There are 71 constituency seats and at least 49 party seats, and a party or coalition needs a majority to form a government.

小黨將成關鍵MINOR PARTIES WILL BE KEY

工黨與國家黨的民意支持度處於歷史低點。民調顯示，選民已對主要政黨能否為經濟疲弱找到解方，以及能否推動必要改革以修復老舊基礎設施失去信心。Popular support for Labour and National is at historically low levels, with surveys showing voters have lost faith in the major parties to find solutions to the sluggish economy and to make the necessary changes to fix ageing infrastructure.

如果國家黨領導的聯盟在官方計票中失去多數，無論是該聯盟或左傾聯盟，都需要中間派機會黨（Opportunity Party）的支持；機會黨看來可能首次進入國會。If the National-led coalition loses its majority at the official count, either it or a left-leaning coalition would require the support of the centrist Opportunity Party, which looks likely to enter parliament for the first time.

機會黨黨魁Qiulae Wong表示，她將尋求與官方結果出爐後取得最多席次的政黨談判。Opportunity leader Qiulae Wong said she would look to negotiate with the party that secured the largest number of seats after the official results.

她告訴公共廣播機構紐西蘭電視台（TVNZ）：「我們是基於一項事實作出這個決定：我們需要在國會取得過半席次，才能組成政府。所以這就是我們會堅持的原則。」"We made that call based on the fact that we need a majority of seats in parliament in order to form a government. So that is what we will stick to," she told public broadcaster TVNZ.

紐西蘭才剛從長期經濟低迷中緩慢走出，成長仍然疲弱，家庭預算承壓，失業率在第三季升至5.7%，創11年來最高。New Zealand has emerged only slowly from a prolonged economic downturn, with growth subdued, household budgets strained and unemployment rising to 5.7% in the third quarter, its highest level in 11 years.

醫療保健與醫院和經濟一樣，名列選民最關切的議題；住房負擔能力也仍是重大問題，儘管房價大致已經穩定。Healthcare and hospitals rank alongside the economy as leading concerns for voters, while housing affordability is still a ⁠major issue, even though house prices have broadly stabilised.

原住民毛利選民也關切現任政府試圖撤回旨在改善毛利社群處境的歷史性政策，以及降低紐西蘭建國文件《懷唐伊條約》（Treaty of Waitangi）對政策影響力的作法。Indigenous Maori voters are also concerned about the current government's attempts to roll back historic policies meant to improve conditions for the community as well as efforts to reduce the influence of the country's founding document, the Treaty of Waitangi, on policy.

（阿拉斯代爾・帕爾與露西・克雷默威靈頓報導；薩德・賽義德與休・勞森編輯）(Reporting by Alasdair Pal and Lucy Craymer in Wellington; Editing by Saad Sayeed and Hugh Lawson)