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Change Your Life! |
Minister fired after sex scandal |
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June 29, 2000
WELLINGTON (AP) - Prime Minister Helen Clark on Wednesday fired a Cabinet minister who refused resign over allegations of sexual misbehavior and that he threatened to shoot his nephew.
The sacking has no effect on Clark's hold on power. Her Labor-led coalition government retains the support of the leftist Alliance Party and the Greens.
Clark announced the firing of Maori Affairs Minister Dover Samuels, 61, at a news conference, following weeks of escalating allegations which she said had overtaken his ability to drive policy.
Police say they are investigating allegations against Samuels which include that he had had sex with a minor who became pregnant and had an abortion 14 years ago; that he assaulted a woman during a later relationship; and that he once threatened to shoot his nephew.
Clark had earlier failed to persuade Samuels to resign. "The minister cannot be effective in his job in a flagship government program while allegations, controversy and public debate swirl around him," Clark said. "I'm not prepared to see this matter slow the government and its program any longer."
The move was perceived by observers to be aimed at limiting damage the scandal could cause to Clark's seven-month-old government, as its popularity slides in opinion polls and business confidence in its center-left policies plummets.
No replacement has been named, but first-term legislator Parekura Horomia was expected to be a front-runner.
Moari are New Zealand's indigenous people, who make up about 14 percent of the population.
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