By DPA,
Wellington : New Zealand prime minister-elect John Key said Sunday that he wanted a fast-track swearing-in process so that he could attend an important Asia-Pacific regional summit in Peru this month.
Key, whose conservative National Party swept to victory over the incumbent Labour-led coalition in Saturday’s general election, told a news conference it would be in the country’s best interests if he could attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Lima on Nov 22-23.
The world financial crisis is expected to be discussed at the meeting which will be attended by leaders of the United States, China and Russia as well as other regional nations.
Key said the election results would not be officially declared until November 22 and he would need to be sworn in ahead of the usual schedule so that he could leave New Zealand before then to attend the meeting.