15 Apr 2015

Cooks Democratic Party looks for fresh start

10:43 am on 15 April 2015

A new leader of the Democratic Party in the Cook Islands is expected to be chosen today, marking a fresh start for the party.

The leader of the opposition William Heather, Democratic Party MP for Murienua James Beer and political veteran Norman George have all thrown their hats into the ring to contest the leadership title at the party's national conference today.

Mr Heather, who is currently acting leader of the party, told the Cook Islands News yesterday he was confident of his chances of holding his position.

However, he also hopes the conference will be a ''fresh start" for the main opposition party, which received a drubbing in the recent Vaipae-Tautu by-election on Aitutaki.

The Democratic Party general secretary Eddie Drollet says the party will be looking to pass an amendment to their constitution so that only current members of parliament can contest the leadership title.

This would mean that the lawyer and former MP Norman George would be unable to stand as leader of the party.

Wilkie Rasmussen stepped down as the leader last week.

The party's general secretary Eddie Drollet says about 100 Democratic Party members and support staff are expected at today's conference.

Cook Islands Democratic Party Logo

Cook Islands Democratic Party Logo Photo: Cook Islands Democratic Party