New Zealand’s prime minister came back from her summer break and decided she didn’t have the energy to be in office for another year – not even for another year with elections scheduled for October and at a time when her popularity is plummeting . Surprised and trying to hold back tears, Jacinda Ardern announced that she will step down as head of Labor and government once the party elects a successor, no later than February 7.
“I gave everything to become prime minister, but it also took a lot of me,” said the one who, when elected in 2017, became the world’s youngest prime minister at the age of 37. “I cannot and should not do this job unless I have a full tank and a little reserve for the unplanned and unexpected challenges that inevitably arise,” he added. “Thinking back to the summer, I know I just don’t have that extra bit in the tank to get the job done right. It’s simple.”
Ardern knows very well what unplanned challenges are. Since coming to power, he has dealt with the worst terrorist attack in New Zealand’s history and the Covid-19 pandemic, among other things. The response to the Christchurch mosque attacks, which killed 51 people in March 2019, marked her image around the world. The prime minister was praised not only for her swift reform of the gun law, but also for her push on social media to crack down on hate speech. And for the compassion and empathy you showed.
The response to the pandemic, uniting a country against Covid-19 – “a team of five million” – and community transmission of the disease guaranteed him a second three-year term in October 2020, this time with a absolute majority. unlike what happened in 2017. We were in the middle of “Jacindamania”, which has over 60% popularity. This Thursday, many world leaders praised his work and inspiration over the years.
But the ongoing pressure – the country only fully reopened its borders in August last year – and the economic impact of the lockdowns have left their mark. “These events are exhausting because of their weight, sheer weight and their ongoing nature. There was never really a moment where we felt like we were just ruling,” Ardern said. “Politicians are people. We give everything we have while we can, and then it’s time. And for me, it’s time,” he said, saying he knew a lot would be said about the “real reasons” for his departure and explains that he has no plans for what he will do.
Ardern also made it clear that it was a privilege to lead the country, noting that he has a responsibility to know when he is not the right person to rule. “I hope to inspire New Zealanders to believe that they can be kind yet strong, empathetic yet decisive, optimistic yet focused.. And that you can be your own type of leader. Someone who knows when it’s time to get out,” said Ardern. The economic crisis, with the prospect of a recession and rising inflation, as well as rising crime in the country, has contributed to Ardern’s declining popularity – last month it was only 29% .
elections in October
In the polls ahead of the October 14 election, the Labor Party appears with 33.1% of the vote intent, behind the National Party, which has 39.4% – the Leader of the Opposition, Chris Luxon, was among those who favored the “service of the Ardern”. “, writing on Twitter that she “put her all into an extremely demanding job”.
However, the prime minister said he would not leave for fear of losing the election. “The Labor Party team is incredibly well positioned to run in the next election,” he stressed. “I’m not leaving because I don’t believe we can win the election, but because I believe the Labor Party can and will win. We need new shoulders for the challenges of this year and the next three.” referred.
Ardern’s successor or successor could be chosen as early as this Sunday by a vote of the party’s 64 deputies. You just need to get the support of at least two-thirds of them. If not, the decision will be up to party members, with the Prime Minister requesting that the process be decided before February 7. Ardern will continue as an elected representative of the Mt. Albert (on the outskirts of Auckland) until April so no interim installments are necessary to replace it.
The prime minister also left a message to her family, whom she said were the ones who sacrificed the most: her daughter Neve, who turns five in June – Ardern was the first head of government since India’s Indira Gandhi became a mother – , and companion of a decade, Clarke Gayford. “For Neve, mom can’t wait to be there when you start school this year. And Clarke, we’re finally getting married,’ he said.. The wedding of both was scheduled for January last year and was eventually canceled by Ardern’s own anti-covid policy.
Source: DN
