Cook Islands general election, 1978

Cook Islands

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Politics and government of
the Cook Islands



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General elections were held in the Cook Islands on 30 March, 1978 to elect 22 MPs to the Parliament. The result was a victory for the Cook Islands Party under Albert Henry, but it later emerged that the CIP had flown hundreds of supporters from New Zealand to the Cook Islands at public expense in order to vote. The results of the election were challenged, and the election of eight MPs was overturned by the High Court.[1] Albert Henry was subsequently convicted of conspiracy and misuse of public money[2] and stripped of his knighthood.

Following the disqualification of Cook Islands Party candidates, Democratic Party leader Tom Davis became Prime Minister.

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