New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (42) surprisingly announced her resignation! At her first press conference this year, she said she would step down on February 7.
“I don’t stop because it was difficult. If that had been the case, I probably would have left the post after two months,” said Ardern. “I’m quitting because with such a privileged role comes responsibility — the responsibility of knowing when you’re the right person to lead and when you’re not.”
And further: “I know what this task requires and I know that I don’t have enough left in the tank to do it justice. It’s that simple. We all give as long as we can give and then it’s over. And now is the time for me.”
The 42-year-old’s resignation will come into effect once a successor has been appointed. A new leader of the Labor Party is to be elected as early as Sunday (22 January).
Ardern was elected prime minister in 2017. Then she was at 37, one of the youngest women in the world to head a government. She was confirmed in office in the parliamentary elections in October 2020 – with a historic election victory.
During her time as head of government, the politician attracted attention above all for her sensitive crisis management. This applied, among other things, to New Zealand’s path through the corona pandemic. Ardern also received a lot of recognition for her reaction to the terrorist attack in March 2019 on two mosques in Christchurch that killed 51 people. At the time, she gave a moving speech and wore a headscarf to show her solidarity with the Muslim community around the world. Most recently, however, the popularity ratings of the head of government and her party had fallen in surveys.
A new New Zealand government will be elected on October 14.