New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has auctioned off a parliamentary report in which she insults an opponent, to raise funds for the fight against prostate cancer.
After a harsh exchange Tuesday with David Seymour, a political opponent, Jacinda Ardern returned to her seat, exasperated. A microphone in Parliament then picks up these murmurs: “What an arrogant asshole.”
Online auctions for the minutes containing the insult, signed by the prime minister and David Seymour, to whom she apologized, fetched NZ$45,500, or 27,200 euros, on Friday. “We are delighted to have so much support,” David Seymour told AFP on Friday.
The end of the auction this Thursday
The insult was recorded as a result of a request from the opponent, who had asked the president of the chamber for an apology from Jacinda Ardern.
The latter subsequently sent a separate message to the leader of the right-wing liberal party ACT, who had the idea of using this dispute to serve a charity.
“I suggested that we sign a copy of the parliamentary transcript to raise money for the Foundation and for morons around the world,” David Seymour explained. This insult was not “in the nature” of the prime minister at all, he acknowledged.
She also readily accepted the proposal, her opponent said.
The ACT party leader hopes the document will “make a lot of money. It’s quite unusual and for a good cause.” The bidding will end on December 22.
Source: BFM TV
