Jacinda Ardern: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern does not plan to seek re-election. She announced on Thursday that she will resign next month. “For me it’s time,” she said at a meeting of members of her Labour Party. “I just don’t have enough in the tank for another four years.”
Ardern became the prime minister in a coalition government in 2017 and led her centre-left Labour Party to a comprehensive victory in an election three years later. However, her party and personal popularity dropped in recent polls.
Parliament on summer recess
New Zealand parliament went into its summer recess a month ago. In her first public appearance since in a month, Jacinda told the party’s annual caucus retreat that during the break she had hoped to find the energy to continue as leader. “But I have not been able to do that,” she said.
Ardern said she will continue as an electorate MP till the next general election on October 14 and she would until then.
“I am not leaving, because I believe we cannot win the next election, but because I believe we can and will,” she said.
Deputy PM Grant Robertson not in race
Ardern said her resignation would take effect by February 7 and added that the Labour caucus would vote on a new leader on January 22. Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said he would not be putting his name forward.
Ardern said there was no secret behind her resignation. “I am human. We give as much as we can for as long as we can and then it’s time. And for me, it’s time.
“I am leaving because with such a privileged job comes a big responsibility. The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead — and also when you’re not.”
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