New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made an unexpected announcement, on Thursday, by saying that she had “no more in the tank” to go on governing the country and would quit the leadership as soon as early February and not contest in the next election.
Ardern, being emotional and teary eyed while speaking, said that the last five and a half years have been tough leading the country as prime minister but she was also a human and required to step aside.
Announcing her decision in a news conference, she said, “This summer, I had hoped to find a way to prepare for not just another year, but another term – because that is what this year requires. I have not been able to do that.”
“I know there will be much discussion in the aftermath of this decision as to what the so-called ‘real’ reason was… The only interesting angle you will find is that after going on six years of some big challenges, I am human.Politicians are human. We give all that we can, for as long as we can, and then it’s time. And for me, it’s time,” the 42-years-old politician added.
The ruling New Zealand Labour Party will vote for its new leader on Sunday, who will replace Ardern and will lead the nation until the upcoming general election.
Ardern’s tenure will end on February 7 and the general election will take place on October 14, 2023.
However, she said she had all hopes that her Labour party would win the upcoming election.
New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson, who is also the country’s finance minister, confirmed in a statement that he would not contest for the next Labour leader.
Whoever will replace Ardern as the country’s prime minister and will be Labour party’s leader will face a tough time as the support for the party has been falling and New Zealand might face a recession in the next quarter.
Political experts believe many of Jacinda’s ministers would be found potential enough for her position, including the former COVID minister and current Minister of Education and Police Chris Hipkins and current Minister of Justice Kiri Allen.
Ardern clarifies leaving job
Ardern clarified “her hard job” not being the reason behind her stepping down but that others could do the job better.
Arden also told her daughter Neve that she was feeling keen to be there for her when she starts school this year and also intimated her longtime partner Clarke Gayford that they should get married.
Ardern became the world’s youngest female head of government at age 37 in 2017.
Her campaigns emphasized women’s rights, an end to child poverty and economic inequality in New Zealand.
After eight months of being the leader, she also became the only elected leader to give birth while in office after Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto.
She was seen as one among many progressive female leaders, which also include Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin.
Her response to the mass murders at two mosques in Christchurch in 2019 that left 51 people dead and 40 injured solidified her compassionate leadership approach.
Ardern won applause across the political sphere for her combating of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the imposition of the country’s most stringent measures and saw one of the lowest death tolls.
But her popularity has faded throughout the previous year due to inflation rising to almost three-decade highs, leading to the central bank raising the cash rate profusely and increasing crime.
Over topics like a government makeover of the water infrastructure and the implementation of an agricultural emissions programme, the nation has become more and more politically divided. The support for Ardern and Labour has declined in the polls.
Political analysts predict that Ardern’s resignation will strengthen the National Party, a conservative opposition force, but it may also provide Labour an opportunity to re-energize and realign itself in time for the election.
