CNN —
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced on Thursday that she would stand aside for a new leader within weeks and said she didn’t think she had the energy to stand again in October’s general election.
At a press conference, Ardern said her term would end on February 7, when she expects a new Labor Prime Minister to be sworn in – although “sooner depending on the process”.
“The decision was my own,” said Ardern. “Leading a country is the most privileged job you can ever have, but also the most challenging. You can’t and shouldn’t do it unless you have a full tank and a little reserve for unexpected challenges.”
“I don’t have enough left in the tank to [the job] justice,” she added.
She said in late 2022 she had taken time to consider whether she had what it took to continue as Prime Minister – eventually concluding it was time to step down.
However, she added: “I’m not going because it was hard. If that were the case, I would have probably stopped the job for two months,” listing various challenges her administration has faced, including the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2019 Christchurch terrorist attack and the deadly volcanic eruption on Waiheke Island, also known as White Island.
The early announcement will allow for planning and preparation by government agencies and political parties, she added.
The general election will take place on October 14.
When Ardern became Prime Minister in 2017 at the age of 37, she was New Zealand’s third woman leader and one of the youngest leaders in the world. Within a year she had taken office – only the second world leader ever.
She was re-elected to a second term in 2020, the victory being buoyed by her government’s “tough and early” approach to tackling the pandemic, which helped New Zealand avoid the devastating outbreaks seen elsewhere.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tweeted praise for Ardern after Thursday’s announcement, saying she had “shown the world how to lead with intellect and strength” and was “a great friend to me”.
This is a groundbreaking story, more to come.