The impact of Jacinda Ardern's resignation as Prime Minister of New Zealand
Prime Minister's resignation
On January 19, 2023, Jacinda Ardern made public her decision to resign as Prime Minister of New Zealand, after a term of 6 years. The announcement of his resignation came before the elections, which will take place on October 14, 2023. Still, Ardern stated that he no longer had “fuel in the tank” to continue in the leadership position of the New Zealand government.
History in office
In 2017, Jacinda Ardern was elected to the post of prime minister, at the age of 37, becoming one of the chiefs youngest government in the world. Since then, the then ruler has led the country through several crises, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the eruption of a volcano located on White Island and shootings at two mosques. As Ardern stated, the events that occurred during his rule were stressful due to their continuous nature and that, at no time, was there a feeling of just governing.
Performance during her tenure
The former prime minister was known for her excellent performance during the crises that followed during her government . In addition, in resigning from her position, opposition leaders praised her administration, such as Chris Luxon, who thanked Ardern for her services and stated on her Twitter account that “she has given her all in this position which is incredibly demanding”. Also, Jacinda Ardern was an example of positive governance in the international political scene, throwing New Zealand into more prominent positions in the current geopolitical situation.
Decline in popularity and replacement in office
However, in recent times, the prime minister's popularity has been the lowest since her election, and Ardern also stated that this decline was the price paid to keep the population protected from Covid-19, due to its policies during the pandemic period.
Due to the resignation of Jacinda Ardern, Chris Hipkins replaced her as Prime Minister. of the posts of Minister of Police, Education and Public Service, as well as the leader of the Chamber. Also, a Horizon Research poll conducted on January 20, 2023 showed that Hipkins is the most popular potential candidate among voters.
New Zealand elections for Prime Minister took place on October 14, 2023, as announced by Jacinda Ardernda before his resignation
By: Beatriz Camargo on 02/01/2023
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