Further instability is being predicted in the Cook Islands following the announcement of a coalition, the resignation of the deputy prime minister and a split within the Democratic party.
A former independent candidate, Elizabeth Ponga, says the coalition, which is between a faction of the Democratic party, headed by the prime minister, Dr Robert Woonton, and the opposition Cook Islands party, is a circus.
She says it's a blatant grab for power on behalf of Dr Woonton when there are still electoral petitions to be decided, and parliament is yet to sit.
Ms Ponga says people are tired of coalitions and made that clear by electing the Democratic party into power, giving them 14 seats out of the 24.
"It's the instability that is very obvious that is going to take place, over and over again with these people. Is there going to be a snap election then after maybe four or five coalitions at this particular term of government? We don't know but the fact of the matter is - we're not going to get ahead. Let's review the situation today."
