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The Green Party says the government should oppose the nomination of Kiwi Chris Liddell for a high-level international post because of his work for US President Donald Trump.
But the National Party disagrees and says New Zealand would be interested in having a “Matamata boy” in the role.
Liddell has been nominated by Trump for the post of secretary general of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a forum of 37 mostly rich and large countries working to establish multilateral guidance on issues including trade and taxes.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Chris Liddell, center, with US President Donald Trump.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said the government had not yet made a decision on the nomination as the nomination process had not been closed.
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Liddell is a New Zealand-born American-New Zealander citizen and is currently Trump’s deputy chief of staff for policy coordination, a role that has seen him involved in the administration’s Covid-19 response.
An NBC report has suggested that Liddell was present and supported the informal vote on whether to go ahead with the Trump administration’s controversial policy of separating migrant children from their parents at the border. The White House has rejected that NBC report as false.
Green Party foreign affairs spokeswoman Golriz Ghahraman said Liddell’s job for Trump disqualified him for the job and that he shouldn’t get New Zealand’s support “solely because of his citizenship status.”
“New Zealand just voted overwhelmingly in favor of governance by values that would erode if a guy like that were the head of a governance body like the OECD,” Ghahraman said.
“It starts to get a little scary at a time of pandemic when you look at its role not only in the erosion of multilateral approaches to things like the Paris Agreement, but in terms of the response to the pandemic and the attack on the Organization. World Health “.
“We have a responsibility to speak out against that kind of set of values in international governance. It is quite dangerous to have such a person leading what should be a cooperative organization ”.
STENT / KEVIN THINGS
Former national leader Simon Bridges said Liddell should have New Zealand’s backing.
National Party foreign affairs spokesman Simon Bridges said that Liddell should receive unequivocal support from New Zealand.
“I think New Zealand should support Chris Liddell as general secretary because he is one of us and it is in our interest to do so,” said Bridges.
“It would be a foot in the door for New Zealand. It would be an incredible access. This is a guy who’s been CFO at Microsoft and senior at General Motors, but ultimately he’s a kid from Matamata and that has to count for a lot.
“I accept that a lot of people will confuse his role with Trump and have doubts about it in New Zealand. From what little I know him, having known him but not knowing him well, he will have his own points of view, not just those of the current president.
Bridges said Liddell would uphold “market-based principles.” I could see the logic of New Zealand backing Australia’s nominee Mathias Cormann, as Australia was our closest ally, but Liddell made the most sense.
“Ultimately, if you have the best option, why settle for the second best option?”
ACT deputy leader and foreign affairs spokesperson Brooke van Velden said ACT also supported Liddell.
“Mr. Liddell is a high-performing New Zealander in the race for a major international role. The fact that he receives more support from Donald Trump than from the Green Party is extraordinary, ”van Velden said.
“New Zealand should be united to support him. It is further proof that the Greens should not be close to power. “
