库克群岛总理马克·布朗领导的库克群岛党在本周选举中赢得12个议席[1]，有望为布朗争取第二任期。虽然在17,000人口、由15个岛屿组成的库克群岛议会中单独组阁需要13席[1]，但布朗的政党过去曾与独立议员合作组建政府。
布朗此前因2025年2月绕过与新西兰的事先协商，直接与北京签署合作协议而引发重大争议[1]。新西兰随后因安全顾虑冻结了数百万美元援助[1]。两国关系在4月有所缓解，双方签署了防务协议，确立新西兰为库克群岛"国防和安全事务的首选伙伴"[1]。本次选举结果表明选民对中新协议事件的抗议已经消退，反对该协议的反对派领导人蒂娜·普佩克-布朗因此失去了议席[1]。据分析，选民在此次投票中主要关注物价上升、生活成本和能源价格等问题[1]。
Prime Minister Mark Brown's Cook Islands Party secured 12 seats in this week's election, positioning the party to form the next government [1]. Although 13 seats are required for an outright parliamentary majority, Brown's party has previously collaborated with independent lawmakers to reach the necessary threshold [1].
The election result follows months of diplomatic turbulence. In February 2025, Brown signed a cooperation agreement with Beijing without prior consultation with New Zealand, triggering a significant dispute between the Pacific island nation and its principal ally [1]. New Zealand responded by freezing millions of dollars in aid over security concerns [1]. Relations improved after the two countries signed a defense agreement in April, establishing New Zealand as the Cook Islands' "preferred partner for defense and security matters" [1]. The election outcome suggests voter discontent over the Chinese agreement has largely subsided [1]. Opposition leader Tina Pupuke-Browne, who had opposed the China deal, lost her parliamentary seat [1]. Voters' primary concerns centered on rising prices, increased cost of living, and energy costs [1].