(Dan Tri) – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation in a surprising announcement on January 18.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (Photo: Getty).
At a party caucus meeting on January 18, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she `no longer had the courage` to do the job.
`It’s time,` Ms Ardern said.
`I will resign, because with such a privileged position comes responsibility. Responsibility is knowing when you are the right person to lead and when you are not. I know what this job entails.`
Prime Minister Ardern announced she would resign before February 7, and said she did not believe she had enough energy to run for re-election.
`Near the end of the year, I thought I really needed to give myself a summer to really consider whether I had what it took to continue. As soon as I realized I couldn’t continue, I
Prime Minister Ardern said she expected the new prime minister to be sworn in on February 7, although `depending on the process it could be sooner`.
The general election will be held on October 14.
Ms. Ardern became the world’s youngest female head of state when she was elected prime minister in 2017 at the age of 37. She led New Zealand through the Covid-19 pandemic and major disasters including a terrorist attack.
`This has been the most fulfilling five and a half years of my life. But there have been challenges too, between an agenda focused on housing, child poverty and climate change, we have faced a
Prime Minister Ardern shared that she has no plans for the future, other than spending more time with her family.
When asked how she wanted New Zealanders to remember her leadership, Ms Ardern said `as someone who always tried to be good`.
Ardern, 41, met her partner Clarke Gayford in 2013. The couple welcomed their first child in 2018 while serving as prime minister.