Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, announced on Thursday that she will resign as leader of the country no later than early February and would not run for reelection because she had “no more in the tank” to do so.
It had been a difficult five and a half years as prime minister, Ardern said, adding that she needed to step down because she was only human.
Since this year necessitates it, I had hoped to find a method to become ready for not just another year but also another term this summer. But regrettably, I have not been able to do that,” 42-year-old Ardern said at a press conference.
“I’m aware that the alleged “true” reason behind this decision will be hotly debated in the days and weeks to come… The only intriguing aspect you will discover is that I am still a human being after six years of significant difficulties, she added.
Politicians are people too. For as long as we can, we give everything we have, but eventually it must end. And it’s time for me.
On Sunday, members of the ruling New Zealand Labour Party will vote for a new leader. The winner will serve as prime minister up to the following general election. “They will conduct a general election on October 14 after Ardern’s tenure as leader expires on February 7.”
According to Ardern, Labour will prevail in the upcoming election.
Grant Robertson, the deputy prime minister and finance minister of New Zealand, declared in a statement that he will not run to be the next leader of the Labour Party.
“Political analyst Ben Thomas said that Ardern’s statement came as a great surprise, despite polls consistently showing her as the nation’s preferred prime minister because her party’s popularity had declined from the sky-high levels recorded before the 2020 election.”
According to Thomas, there was no obvious replacement.
“Jacinda Ardern: A Compassionate Leader who Showed the World How to Lead with Strength and Intelligence”
Ardern asserted that she was leaving the position not because it was difficult, but rather because she thought others could do it better.
She informed her longtime partner Clarke Gayford that it was time for them to be married and expressed excitement about being present for her daughter Neve when she started school this year.
Because of her gender and young, compassionate leader Jacinda Ardern’s first election made a significant impact on the world stage, giving rise to the term “Jacinda-mania.”
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.
A day after the assault, Ardern spoke with the Muslim community while wearing a hijab, declaring that the entire country was “unified in grief” and quickly classifying the attacks as “terrorism.” She promised and delivered major gun law reform within a month.
“Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has demonstrated to the world what it is to lead with strength and intelligence. She has shown how empathy and insight are strong leadership traits, according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who made the statement on Thursday.
Ardern received praise from all sides of the political spectrum for her management of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced the nation to enact some of the tightest international regulations while also producing one of the lowest death tolls.
Her support has decreased over the past year, though, as crime has surged, inflation has soared to levels not seen in over three decades, and the central bank has aggressively raised the cash rate.
Political disagreements in the nation have grown around topics including the government’s renovation of the water infrastructure and the implementation of a program to reduce agricultural emissions.