Candidates to replace Jacinda Ardern as New Zealand’s prime
minister after her shock resignation are expected to emerge ahead of a leadership vote on Sunday.
Ardern, 42, said on Thursday she had “no more in the
tank” to continue leading the country and would step down no
later than early February and not seek re-election.
Chris Hipkins, a minister in her government and a top contender for the job, told news organisation Newshub on Friday that he expected Labour lawmakers to reach a consensus on a new candidate, but declined to say whether he planned to run.
“We do have a responsibility to make sure that we’re
making these decisions in the best interests of New Zealanders,”
he said.
“They will absolutely know who the next leader is going
to be as those conversations finally conclude.”
If a candidate cannot secure two-thirds of the
available votes on Sunday, the leadership contest will go to the
wider membership.
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Possible successors
Commentators point to several Ardern ministers as possible
candidates for the role, including Hipkins, the former Covid minister and current minister of education and police, and
current Minister of Justice Kiri Allen.
Ardern told media at Napier Airport on Friday that she
intended to remain neutral during the election.
“I think the most important thing is that we focus on
the process, it is swift, that (it) ensures that the team is
able to move quickly back to focusing on the issues that matter
for New Zealanders,” she said.
She added she had no regrets about her decision to step
down.
The winner will become prime minister until the next
general election.
Ardern’s term as the leader will conclude no later
than February 7, and a general election will be held on October 14.
Labour has been struggling in the polls.
A Taxpayers
Union-Curia poll released on Friday using data before Ardern
stepped down saw Labour’s popularity fall to 31.7 percent, down from
1.4 percent last month, while the opposition New Zealand National Party
holds 37.2 percent of the vote.
READ MORE: New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern to quit as PM next month
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