Photo: Kerry Marshall/Getty
Jacinda Ardernis stepping down as New Zealand’s Prime Minister.
Arden made the unexpected announcement during her party’s annual caucus on Thursday local time, saying she will not seek re-election and will leave her role no later than Feb. 7.
“I know what this job takes. And I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It’s that simple,” Arden announced.
She explained that she came to this decision after reflecting during the summer break on whether she had enough energy to continue leading the country until its next general election, scheduled for Oct. 14.
“I had hoped that I would find what I needed to carry on over that period but, unfortunately, I haven’t, and I would be doing a disservice to New Zealand to continue.
Ardern said following her resignation she hopes to spend more time with her partner Clarke Gayford and theirdaughter Neve, whom they welcomed in 2018.
She added that she would not seek reelection and would not be putting herself forward as a future leader of the Labour Party. The Labour Party has a week to find a new party leader with more than two-thirds of support,according toThe Guardian.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.Mark Baker/AP/Shutterstock
Ardern was elected Prime Minister in 2017 at the age of 37 – becoming the youngest female head of government in the world.
However, the Prime Minister has also received criticism for those same COVID restrictions and her economic policies amid growing inflation.
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New Zealand polling in October has shown the Labour Party slightly trailing behind the National Party, perNPR.
“I’m not leaving because I believe we can’t win the election, but because I believe we can and will, and we need a fresh set of shoulders for that challenge,” Ardern said.
source: people.com
