New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announces ‘Shocking Resignation’

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has announced her resignation today. She will be resigning from her position the next month.

New Zealand PM Ardern Announcement

Before her announcement, Prime Minister Ardern called a meeting of the members of her Labour Party.

While announcing her decision, she said “For me it’s time.” “I just don’t have enough in the tank for another four years,” she added.

In her public appearance since parliament went into its summer recess a month ago, she said at Labour’s annual caucus retreat that during the break she had hoped to find the energy to continue as leader, “but I have not been able to do that”.

PM also said that the next general election would be held on Saturday and she would continue as an electorate MP until then.

“I am not leaving, because I believe we cannot win the next election, but because I believe we can and will,” she said.

The Prime Minister said her resignation would take effect no later than February 7, adding that the Labour caucus would vote on a new leader on January 22.

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Deputy PM Grant Robertson Stance On Her Resignation

After the shocking announcement of PM, Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson said he would not be putting his name forward.

The Prime Minister said there was no secret behind her resignation.

“A Big Responsibility”: PM Ardern

During the meeting, Prime Minister said, “I am human. We give as much as we can for as long as we can and then it’s time. And for me, it’s time.”

“I am leaving because with such a privileged job comes a big responsibility. The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead…and also when you’re not.”

Ardern was elected in 2017 as New Zealand’s Prime Minister. At the age of 36 years, she became the country’s youngest prime minister since 1856 and a global icon for progressive politics.