Status: 22.12.2022 8:13 a.m
A faux pas turns into an auction for a good cause: In New Zealand, a parliamentary record was auctioned off for more than a hundred thousand dollars. In it, Prime Minister Ardern calls ACT boss Seymour an “arrogant ass”.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has apologized for a derogatory remark about an opposition politician – and has now settled the dispute with a joint initiative. The 42-year-old had described the leader of the right-liberal ACT party, David Seymour, as an “arrogant ass” in a parliamentary debate.
What was barely audible in the TV broadcast was caught by the microphone on her desk, which was still on. Observers were soon wondering whether one had to be prepared for the rude tone of political actors in the otherwise tranquil New Zealand in the 2023 election year. But Ardern and Seymour made amends.
Auction for a good cause
Both signed an official parliamentary protocol with Ardern’s comment – and had it auctioned off for a good cause. The auction ended with a top bid of more than 100,000 New Zealand dollars – around 59,000 euros.
“Can’t say I expected that,” Ardern wrote on Facebook. “A faux pas with the old mic in Parliament has turned into $100,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Thanks to David for being a good sportsman and to everyone who submitted a bid.”
Political journalist Aaron Dahmen spoke on Twitter of the “magic of New Zealand politics”.
Labor Party behind Conservatives
After five years at the head of government, Ardern faces a tough election campaign in 2023. Her Social Democrat Labor Party clinched a historic landslide victory two years ago, but it is trailing Conservative rivals in the latest polls. So Ardern’s re-election could be in jeopardy.
Her infamous remark about Seymour, the leader of the neo-liberal ACT party, came during Question Time in Parliament last week when he questioned the PM’s government record. Ardern later apologized via text message to Seymour, who said he was “shocked and puzzled” by her choice of words.
“For asses everywhere” – against prostate cancer
That doesn’t look like her at all and he’s known her personally for eleven years. In her message, however, she was self-critical and wrote: “As my mother used to say: ‘If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it,'” Seymour quoted as saying.
At a party, he proposed the idea of the auction to Ardern, to which she agreed. “The beauty of this fundraiser is that it appeals to everyone. People who don’t like me, people who like me, people who don’t like Jacinda and people who like her – but especially people who hate prostate cancer,” added Seymour.
Under the motto “Ardern and Seymour team up for butts everywhere,” the website “Trade Me” finally hosted the auction, which received more than 280 bids. Peter Dickens, head of the Prostate Cancer Foundation, thanked both politicians for their “stylish” response. After a tough year in which conventional fundraising was restricted by the corona pandemic, the money is giving his institution an immense boost. “It’s more than we could have ever imagined,” gushed Dickens.