Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand, announces her resignation.
Thursday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the stunning news that she will retire 10 months before the end of her tenure.
At the party’s annual caucus meeting, the Labour Party leader announced the news while holding back tears. Despite earlier stating her intention to seek for a third term, Ardern said she lacks the stamina to continue in office beyond February 7.
“I’m going because such a prestigious position comes with responsibilities. “The duty to recognize when you are the ideal person to lead and when you are not,” she explained.
“I know what is required for this position. And I am aware that I no longer have the capacity to do it justice. It’s that easy.”
Ardern stated that she had spent her summer break wondering whether or not she has the stamina to continue serving as prime minister, but eventually determined that she did not.
The youngest female head of government in the world expressed her want to be present when her 4-year-old daughter Neve attends kindergarten next year.
She told her husband, as reported by ABC News, “Let’s finally get married to Clarke.”
Following her election in 2017 at the age of 37, Ardern led New Zealand through the Covid-19 epidemic, the terrorist assault on two mosques in Christchurch, and the White Island volcano eruption. In 2020, she was re-elected, and her term was scheduled to expire at the end of this year.
However, Ardern was not in a position to gain reelection in October. The Labour party lead by Ardern has lagged behind the rival National for several months, according to the Guardian.
Arden was caught on a hot mic last month calling her political competitor, the leader of the libertarian ACT party, a “arrogant p—.”