New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced Thursday that she will step down in February.
“For me, the time has come,” he declared at a meeting with his Labor Party members. “I don’t have the energy for another four years.”
Jacinda Ardern has led the New Zealand government since 2017 and won the next election in 2020 with an absolute majority.
However, the Prime Minister has seen his popularity (and that of his party) plummet in recent polls.
“I’m not leaving because we can’t win the next election,” Ardern said tonight, “but I believe we’re going to win them. New Zealand has a general election on October 14.
Jacinda Ardern has announced she will leave the government by February 7, with the party due to choose her successor on January 22.
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson has already said he will not run for office.
“I am a human being. We give as much as we can and the time has come, for me, the time has come for me to step down from this privileged job. With great responsibility comes great responsibility. And that responsibility is knowing when the best person to lead – and when you are not,” he told his party members. The Prime Minister said more in the meeting.
“Hardcore explorer. Extreme communicator. Professional writer. General music practitioner. Prone to fits of apathy.”