I am pretty annoyed with Opportunity and can't understand their position.
They say they will run with whoever gets the most seats in the election. This means they have no stand with regard to either the left and its likely coalition partners, or the right and its.
They have not said they will run with the coalition that agrees to the largest share of their most important policies, which means they would seem to have little ultimate bargaining power with whoever they run with.
I would now expect many voters inclined to vote for them, but leaning left or right to not want to risk them running with the coalition that that voter does not favour and therefore to vote for one of the two major parties instead. Not good for them.
I'd also expect the same for many voters (myself included) who want to use MMP to increase the power of one of the minor parties in government, such as the Greens. If these voters rightly worry that voting in this way could allow OP to run with their non-favoured coalition, they are likely to avoid that risk by voting for a major party instead, reducing the benefit of MMP and the potential for some real and necessary change.
Tell me if I have missed something here.
@mgoggie My recollection is that they will first *talk* to whichever major party has the majority of votes. Not necessarily jump straight into coalition with them.
Not that I support their stance, but that's how I read it.