Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern he said he was resigning in a shock announcement after confirming national elections this October.
At the party’s annual caucus meeting on Thursday, Ardern said she “no longer has enough in the tank” to do the job. “It’s about time,” he said.
“I’m leaving because with such a privileged role comes responsibility. The responsibility of knowing when you are the right person to lead and when you are not. I know what this job requires. And I know I don’t have enough power in my tank to do it justice anymore. It’s that simple,” he said.
His term as prime minister will end no later than February 7, but he will continue to serve as an MP until elections later this year.
“I am human, politicians are also human. We give everything we can. And then the time came. For me, it’s time,” he said. Ardern said she considered whether she had the energy to continue in the role over the summer break and concluded she did not.
Ardern was elected prime minister in 2017 at the age of 37, becoming the world’s youngest female head of government. New Zealand The Covid-19 pandemic and major disasters including the terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch and the White Island volcanic eruption.
“It was the most fulfilling five and a half years of my life. But it also has its challenges – between an agenda focused on housing, child poverty and climate change, we have … a domestic terrorist incident, a major natural disaster, a global pandemic and an economic crisis,” he said.
Asked how she wanted New Zealanders to remember her leadership, Ardern replied “as someone who always tried to be kind”.
“I hope I leave New Zealanders with the belief that you can be kind but strong, empathetic but firm, optimistic but careful. And you can be the leader in turn – you can be the one who knows when it’s time to go,” Ardern said.
During the past year Ardern has faced a significant increase in threats of violence, especially from conspiracy theorists and anti-vaccination groups outraged by the country’s vaccination mandates and Covid-19 lockdowns. However, he said the increased risk associated with the job was not behind his decision to resign.
“I don’t want to give the impression that people are leaving because of the difficulties you face in politics. Yes, it has an effect. After all, we are human, but this was not the basis of my decision,” he said.
Ardern said she has no plans for the future other than to spend more time with her family.
He thanked his partner Clarke Gayford and daughter Neve, who he gave birth to while in office, as “the ones who sacrificed the most out of all of us”.
“For Neve: mom is looking forward to being there when she starts school this year. And Clarke – let’s finally get married.”
The Prime Minister’s announcement comes as New Zealand enters a hotly contested election year with the October 14 poll date announced. Placed the vote made in recent months Ardern’s Labor Party is lagging behind the opposition National Party.
Ardern said the drop in the polls was not behind her decision to leave.
“I’m not going because I believe we can’t win the elections, but I believe we can and we will, and we need new shoulders for this challenge,” he said.
It is not yet clear who will replace Ardern: Deputy Leader and Finance Minister Grant Robertson, who is being considered for the role, said on Thursday he would not seek the role. “I am not putting myself forward as a candidate for the leadership of the Labor Party,” he said in his statement.
The Labor Group now has seven days to find out whether a new candidate has more than two-thirds support within the caucus to become the new leader and prime minister. Three days later, on January 22, a caucus vote for a new leader will be held. If no one supports this threshold, the leadership race will go to the wider Labor membership.
Jacinda Ardern showed the world how to lead with intelligence and strength.
He demonstrated that empathy and understanding are strong leadership qualities.
Jacinda has been a fierce advocate for New Zealand, an inspiration to many and a great friend to me. pic.twitter.com/QJ64mNCJMI
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 19, 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute to Ardern, saying she had “shown the world how to lead with reason and strength”.
“He has demonstrated that empathy and understanding are strong leadership qualities,” he said.
