Cook Islands PM forms breakaway party

Cook Islands Prime Minister Dr Robert Woonton. Picture / Martin Sykes

Cook Islands Prime Minister Dr Robert Woonton is to lead a new party, along with rebel Democratic Party MPs, the Cook Islands News reports today.

The paper said the formation of the new Demo Party Tumu was announced yesterday, and includes Health Minister Peri Vaevae Pare, education minister Jim Marurai, Teenui/Mapumai MP Poko Simpson, and Rakahanga independent Piho Rua.

Marurai is the deputy leader and Office of the Minister for Island Administrations chief executive, Nandi Glassie is the party's new president.

In a media release from the Office of the Prime Minister, Dr Woonton said that his faction met following the expulsion of Vaevae Pare and himself from the Democratic Party.

"The Demo Party Tumu are the real Democrats," Dr Woonton said.

"Our Cook Islands Party partners have been fully appraised as to what we are doing and they are delighted that our faction has an identity."

Dr Woonton said they had taken the action of forming their own party as they had been deprived of their right to choose a leader of their own.

Last night, Democratic Party president Makiuti Tongia said they were distancing themselves from the Demo Party Tumu.

"We're not associating ourselves in any way or form with the newly formed Woonton faction party because it has nothing to do with the Democratic Party.

"We have a constitution and are in no way related to the other group."

Tongia added that they were seeking legal advice on the use of the word "Demo" in the new party's name.

- NZPA