Political parties in the Cook Islands continue to negotiate behind closed doors as they try to form a coalition government.

Neither the Democratic Party or the Cook Islands Party secured a clear majority in the 24 seat parliament after voters went to the polls last week.

Preliminary results show the Democrats on 11 seats, and Henry Puna’s CIP has 10.

Two seats went to independents, and one to the One Cook Islands Party.

RNZ Pacific correspondent Florence Syme Buchanan said everyone was keeping their strategies under wraps.

“At this point in time they will be focussing on keeping their respective parties very united, trying to avoid any fragmentation within their own parties with each other maybe offering individuals ‘special things’ if they would cross the floor to try to form a government,” she said.

“This could result in a long drawn out resolution of finalising a government.”

According to the preliminary results five constituencies recorded close results – one with just a single vote and four others with 8-10 votes.

Chief electoral officer Taggy Tangimetua said a significant number of votes still had to be counted.

These include the advance, special and postal votes.