Until the end, she will have kept her head held high. Resigning New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday expressed her gratitude for her time as head of government, on the eve of the inauguration of her successor Chris Hipkins. “I leave with a feeling of gratitude after carrying out this wonderful role for so many years,” she told reporters in the Maori village of Ratana (north) during her last public trip as as prime minister.
The 42-year-old politician said last week that she did not have “enough energy” to continue in office, after years marked by a deadly volcanic eruption, the country’s worst ever attack and the coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19.
“Heinous” attacks
Her resignation, which came less than three years after a landslide election victory, sparked a nationwide debate about the denigration of women leaders, particularly on social media.
Chris Hipkins, who will be sworn in as Prime Minister on Wednesday, described as “absolutely abhorrent” the attacks suffered by Jacinda Ardern while she was head of state. Jacinda Ardern, however, said on Tuesday that she would “hate” if her sudden departure was seen as a criticism of her country. The popularity of Jacinda Ardern’s Labor government has soured in recent months due to a looming recession and a resurgence of the Conservative opposition.