Kim Dotcom readies grand exit from politics after dismal election

In the wake of his failure to make a dent in New Zealand politics, Kim Dotcom has said his name alone spoiled the chances for the alliance of the Internet Party and the Mana Movement.

The result was truly dismal: the Internet Party failed to secure a seat, and Mana's leader Hone Harawira lost his seat, as New Zealand's conservative National Party led by Dotcom's arch-enemy John Key swept back into power with 48.1 per cent of the vote.

Conceding the defeat, Doctom said “We lost tonight, but we did not lose because of our leadership – we had great leadership. We did not lose because of our campaign – we had a great campaign, and we did not lose because of our vision, because we had a great vision. I have to admit that we lost because of me.”