DailyExpertNews
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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Thursday that she will step aside for a new leader within weeks, saying she doesn’t believe she has the energy to seek re-election in October’s polls.
Speaking at a press conference, Ardern said her term would end on February 7, when she expects a new Labor prime minister to be sworn in – although “depending on the process that could be sooner”.
“The decision was my own decision,” said Ardern. “Running a country is the most privileged job anyone could ever have, but also the most challenging. You can’t and shouldn’t do the job unless you have a full tank, plus a little reserve for those unplanned and unexpected challenges.”
“I no longer have enough in the tank to do the job justice,” she added.
In late 2022, she said she was taking time to consider whether she had what it takes to remain prime minister, eventually concluding it was time to step down.
However, she added: “I’m not leaving because it was hard. If that were the case, I probably would have been left in the job for two months,” cited several challenges her administration faced, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2019 Christchurch terror attack and the deadly volcanic eruption at Te Puia o Whakaari, also known as White Island.
Ardern also highlighted achievements made during her tenure, including legislation on climate change and child poverty. “I wouldn’t want the past five and a half years to be all about the challenges. For me, it was also about progress,” she said.
A look at the profile of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern
Bryce Edwards, a political scientist at New Zealand’s Victoria University of Wellington, said Ardern’s resignation was “shocking” but not a complete surprise.
“She is celebrated all over the world, but her government has plummeted in the polls,” he said. New Zealand’s next general election is on October 14.
When Ardern became Prime Minister in 2017 at the age of 37, she was New Zealand’s third female leader and one of the youngest leaders in the world. Within a year she had given birth to office – only the second world leader to ever do so.
She was re-elected to a second term in 2020, the victory bolstered by her government’s “tough and early approach” to the pandemic, which helped New Zealand avoid the devastating outbreaks seen elsewhere.
Ardern has garnered praise on the international political scene for her fresh and empathetic approach to the role, but her popularity has waned in New Zealand in recent years.
Several polls in late 2022 showed that support for Ardern and her Labor party was falling, with some at the lowest level since she took office in 2017, according to DailyExpertNews affiliate Radio New Zealand.
Edwards, the political analyst, said Ardern’s decision to step down may save her a humiliating election result.
“Leaving now is best for her reputation… she will leave on good terms rather than lose the election,” he said.
Edwards said there is “no one obvious” to replace her, although possible candidates include Police and Education Secretary Chris Hipkins, who has strong ties to Ardern, and Attorney General Kiri Allan.
Following the announcement on Thursday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted praise for Ardern, saying she has “showed the world how to lead with intellect and strength” and that she has been “a good friend to me”.
Ardern said she has no firm plans on what she’ll do next, but she’s looking forward to spending more time with her family.
Turning to her child and fiancé, she said, “For Neve, Mom is looking forward to being there when you start school this year, and for Clark, let’s finally get married.”
Ardern has been engaged to television presenter Clarke Gayford since 2019.