Jacinda Ardern steps down as Prime Minister of New Zealand

Jacinda Ardern stepped down as Prime Minister of New Zealand this wednesday the 25th [noite de terça em Brasília], following his surprise resignation as head of government last week. your ally Chris Hipkins, 44, was sworn in as the new prime minister by New Zealand’s governor-general at a ceremony in the capital, Wellington. “This is the greatest privilege and responsibility of my life,” Hipkins declared upon taking office. “I am motivated and excited about the challenges that lie ahead.” Ardern claimed last week that he no longer had the “energy” to continue. During his term, New Zealand suffered from natural disasters, the worst terrorist attack in its history and the Covid-19 pandemic. In the latter, the prime minister led the country to positive results of global prominence. In her last public appearance as Prime Minister, this Wednesday morning, Ardern left Parliament in front of hundreds of passers-by, who spontaneously applauded her. His centre-left government has struggled over the past two years with rising inflation, a possible recession and the rise of the conservative opposition.

Hipkins, responsible for masterminding New Zealand’s pandemic response plan, will now be tasked with boosting the government’s low approval ratings ahead of the October general election. “normal, ordinary kiwi (as New Zealanders are called)”, comes from a working-class family and likes to cycle to work. “Covid-19 and the pandemic have created a health crisis. Now an economic crisis has been created and that is what my administration will focus on,” Hipkins said earlier.