Jacinda Ardern, who has become a global liberal icon as prime minister of New Zealand but faces deepening political challenges with an election underway at home, for learned in a surprise announcement on Thursday that she would step down as country’s leader next month.
In a tearful speech in the New Zealand city of Napier, where Ms Ardern’s Labor Party held its summer caucus, she said she personally did not feel ready to complete another term. .
“I believe leading a country is the most privileged job anyone can have, but also one of the more challenging,” Ms. Ardern said. “You can’t and shouldn’t do that unless you have a full tank of gas plus a bit of reserve for those unexpected challenges.”
She added: “This has been the most fulfilling five and a half years of my life. I am leaving because such a privileged job comes with a great responsibility.”
Ms Ardern said Labor lawmakers would elect a new leader of the party — and country — in three days. She will leave office before February 7.
Ms Ardern, 42, became prime minister in 2017 and won a historic run for re-election in 2020, thanks in large part to the strength of New Zealand’s response to Covid, allowing people to live a life living a near-normal life for much of the pandemic. But since then, her party has plummeted in the polls amid economic hardship and several highly publicized cases of violent crime.
Immediately after taking office unexpectedly as New Zealand’s youngest prime minister in 150 years, Ms Ardern became an international celebrity. She had a daughter while in office and take her on the floor of the United Nations. To her admirers, she became the shining face of radicalism, and a welcome alternative to the politics represented by then-President Donald J. Trump in the United States. .
But that was her reaction in 2019 to massacre of 51 people at two mosques in Christchurch, by a gunman who espoused anti-Muslim, anti-immigrant hatred, cemented her image as a hero of the global left. “We stand for diversity, kindness, compassion. A home for people who share our values. Shelter for those who need it,” she said at the time in New Zealand.
Ms Ardern said she informed party members earlier on Thursday of her decision to step down. She said she would remain a Member of Parliament for her Auckland constituency until April, to avoid a by-election.
Labor is facing major political challenges ahead of the October 14 election. For almost a year, the party has voted in favor of the centre-right National Party, led by Christopher Luxon, a former chief executive. aviation industry, leadership. As of December, Labor’s approval rating was 33%, compared with 38% for the National Party.
However, Ms. Ardern personally remains popular with voters. She regularly outperforms Mr Luxon in polls as the “most preferred prime minister” of most New Zealanders.
Mr Luxon said last month that polls showed New Zealanders felt the country was going “in the wrong direction”. He added: “What they might see is a government that doesn’t get the job done.”
Voters are primarily concerned with the many economic problems facing the country. New Zealand house prices, which have increased over the past decade, 12% reduction in 2022. Borrowers, most of whom can only fix their mortgage rates for a few years at a time, are at high risk of negative equity, as they must balance high costs of living and inflation. inflation increased with two double catastrophes: falling house prices and rising house prices. interest rate.
The marked increase in violent crime, including famous incidents in which employees of corner stores were assaulted and in one case killed, also contributed to feelings of discontent.
Ben Thomas, a political commentator and former press secretary for the National Party, said Ms Ardern’s resignation would surprise many New Zealanders and could spell disaster for Labor.
“She is Labor’s number one political asset,” he said. “The resignation is most likely a personal decision, as opposed to a deliberate strategy of what would be best for Labor in the election.”
During her speech, Ms Ardern spoke to her partner, TV presenter Clarke Gayford, and their 5-year-old daughter Neve. They are, she said, “the ones who sacrificed the most among us.”
“Dear Neve: I look forward to being there when you start school this year,” Mom said. “And to Clarke – let’s get married at last.”
In her resignation nearly a year before the general election, Ms Ardern followed closely in the footsteps of her recent predecessor, John Key, who resigned in 2016allowed his deputy, Bill English, to replace him as leader of the Congress Party and prime minister.
But there is no clear successor to Ms. Ardern. Grant Robertson, Labour’s deputy leader, will not seek leadership, Ms. Ardern said. Any candidate wanting to lead Labor must have the support of at least two-thirds of the party’s lawmakers, a requirement that raises the possibility of a power vacuum, protracted infighting and a relatively newcomer, at least in the eyes of voters, party leaders, and Republicans. nation.
Livia Albeck-Ripka contribution report.
