Jacinda Ardern has announced she will step down as New Zealand’s prime minister next month.
Jacinda Ardern looked very emotional when she announced this and her voice was heavy.She explained how difficult six years had been as prime minister for her and how it affected her character.
She will step down as Labor leader by February 6 next month, and the party will vote for her replacement within days.
New Zealand will hold a general election on October 14th this year.
when Jacinda Ardern was elected as a Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2017 at the age of 37, she became the world’s youngest female prime minister at the time.
A year after she became prime minister, she became the second elected leader in the world to give birth to her son during her tenure.
She has guided New Zealand through major events such as the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing economic recession, the shooting at mosque in Christchurch and the volcanic eruption of White Island.
She said: “It is one thing to lead your country in times of peace, but it is another to lead your country in times of crisis.”
Jacinda Ardern wasn’t resigning because Labor couldn’t win the election, but because she was sure she would. “It takes courage and strength to meet this challenge,” she said.
Jacinda Ardern highlighted her government’s achievements in tackling climate change, housing and reducing child poverty, saying she is proud of these initiatives.
However, she hoped that “New Zealand will always remember her as a kind person.”
Jacinda Ardern led Labor to a landslide victory in her 2020 election, but polls show her popularity has declined in recent months.
