Successor Jacinda Ardern found – with difficult prospects Three weeks after fall in concrete pipe: dead boy found in Vietnam

The ruling Labor Party on Saturday nominated 44-year-old Chris Hipkins as the sole candidate to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as party leader. His confirmation at a party leadership meeting on Sunday is considered a formality. It is expected that the 64 Labor MPs will confirm him as the new party leader. The Labor leader automatically becomes Prime Minister. Ardern surprisingly announced her resignation on Thursday.

In an initial reaction to his nomination, Hipkins said he considers himself “quite decisive” and “can get things done”. The prospect of his new position makes him “energetic and enthusiastic”.

He was also optimistic about the parliamentary elections in October. However, Labor is trailing in polls with rising costs of living, poverty and high crime rates. According to a poll by 1Nieuws-Kantar in December, the party only has 33 percent after 40 percent at the beginning of 2022. That would mean that another coalition partner would be needed. But even with the favored Greens, who were nine percent, no majority would be achieved.

Former Corona minister

Hipkins had received praise for his nearly two-year stint as Corona Secretary. The country did not fully reopen its borders until August last year. Hipkins is currently in charge of the education and police departments in the cabinet. He has been a Member of Parliament in Wellington for a total of 14 years.

After more than five years at the head of the government, Ardern announced her resignation by Thursday 7 February. The 42-year-old gave the reason that she lacked the strength for more years in office.

Ardern was elected prime minister in 2017. In the parliamentary elections of October 2020, she was confirmed in this office and achieved a historic electoral victory. In all her years in government, the charismatic politician made a name for herself, especially with her sensitive crisis management.