WELLINGTON – A New Zealand politician was expelled from Parliament after calling her adversaries spineless during a passionate discussion on recognizing a Palestinian state. She was removed again on Wednesday for not apologizing for her comments.
Chlöe Swarbrick, Green Party co-leader and member of the opposition, was ousted from the parliamentary session on Tuesday after urging lawmakers to support her proposal for New Zealand to impose sanctions on Israel due to the conflict in Gaza.
She was hit with a three-day ban — lengthy by New Zealand parliamentary standards — but returned the next day only to be ejected a second time.
The incident occurred during heated parliamentary proceedings in Wellington as critics pressed the government to officially recognize an independent Palestinian state, following Australia’s recent commitment to do so. Other nations like France, Britain, and Canada are anticipated to recognize Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September.
“We are one of the very few countries in the world who so far refuse to acknowledge the absolute bare minimum,” Swarbrick said.
Calling opponents spineless prompted the ejection
Swarbrick was suddenly expelled from the chamber when she challenged lawmakers to back her sanction proposal against Israel, which currently lacks sufficient legislative support.
“If we can find six out of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can position ourselves on the right side of history,” she addressed her fellow MPs.
“That is completely unacceptable to make that statement,” Speaker Gerry Brownlee interrupted. “Withdraw it and apologize.”
The Green politician refused. Brownlee told her to leave the debating chamber for the rest of the week.
“Happily,” Swarbrick said.
The confrontation escalated when Swarbrick returned on Wednesday, defying the ban, and refused to apologize even after being prompted by Brownlee. She was expelled once more, declaring “free Palestine” as she exited.
Brownlee took the serious step, rare in New Zealand’s Parliament, of taking a vote to “name” Swarbrick for her misconduct, a ruling that means a legislator is formally suspended with their pay docked. The vote passed, with all government lawmakers endorsing it.
Opposition lawmakers claim double standards
The measure provoked fresh debate in Parliament about punishments for unruly behavior. Government lawmakers voted in June to enact unprecedented lengthy bans of opposition Māori Party lawmakers who performed a haka chant to protest a controversial vote.
On Wednesday, opposition politicians decried Swarbrick’s penalty as unusually severe, with lawmaker Willie Jackson highlighting his own ban of just 30 minutes for calling one of his colleagues a liar, before he was allowed to resume his seat without an apology. In another recent example, a government politician used an eye-watering expletive without censure, supporters of Swarbrick said.
Several others had escaped punishment in recent years when using the word “spineless” about their opponents. Opposition leader Chris Hipkins said it was unprecedented for a lawmaker to be ejected from Parliament for a second day over the same offense.
Brownlee, however, said he had drawn a line when Swarbrick directed a personal insult at all 68 government lawmakers — including him.
“We have so many threats and other stuff being directed at Members of Parliament,” he said. “If we don’t change the behavior in here, nothing will change outside.”
Pressure grows to decide Palestinian statehood question
Meanwhile, the government continues to mull recognition of an independent Palestinian state. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon Wednesday made his most strident rebuke yet of Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the Israel leader “has lost the plot” on the “human catastrophe” in Gaza.
“I think Netanyahu has gone way too far,” Luxon told reporters. “He is not listening to the international community and that is unacceptable.”
While senior New Zealand officials, including Luxon, have said recognition of Palestine from their government was “a matter of not if, but when,” his Cabinet has yet to endorse a change of position. A decision will be made in September after further consideration, Luxon said Monday.
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