Only one candidate Replaces Jacinda Ardern who resigned As the leader of the New Zealand Labor Party and the resulting government. Chris Hipkins, 44, and until now education, police and public administration minister, is due to be confirmed by his 64 colleagues in a Labor parliamentary group (which he chairs) this Sunday. That’s when Ardern will formally step down and Hipkins will be named as her successor.
Hipkins became a regular in New Zealand news when she was appointed by Ardern in 2020 to lead the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. New Zealand, like neighboring Australia, adopted a ‘Covid Zero’ strategy, which lasted until mid-2021, and the arrival of transmissible variants forced the government to take more flexible measures and speed up vaccination. 2,439 people have officially died from the virus in New Zealand.
The only poll since Ardern’s sudden resignation on Thursday showed Hipkins already a slim favorite to succeed the outgoing prime minister. If he is finally confirmed, it will be very difficult to win the general election in October. Having won its first outright majority since the new electoral system was introduced in 1996 three years ago, Labor is now five-and-a-half points behind the conservative National Party.
Follow all international information Facebook Y Twitteror inside Our weekly newsletter.
Join EL PAÍS to follow all the news and read without limits.
“Typical beer advocate. Future teen idol. Unapologetic tv practitioner. Music trailblazer.”