New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern resigns

WELLINGTON (New Zealand), Jan 19: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern resigned on Thursday. In a shock announcement, she said February 7 will be her last day in office but will continue as lawmaker until the next general election on October 14. She said she no longer has "enough in the tank" to lead the country.

She said she will not be contesting again for the office nor as a lawmaker. Known for her sharp intellect and remarkable empathy, Ms Ardern, 42, has been the Prime Minister for nearly six years.

Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson has also ruled out contesting in the election or for the leadership of their Labour Party. Therefore, the Labour MPs will vote for a new interim Prime Minister as early as this Sunday. If nobody gets two-thirds majority, the next round will be by party members as it happened in the UK recently.

"I'm announcing that I will not be seeking re-election. And then my term as Prime Minister will conclude no later than the 7th of February. I am leaving because with such a privileged role, comes responsibility, the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead, and also, when you are not", Ms Ardern told a news conference.

"I know what the job takes. And I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It's that simple. After going on six years of some big challenges, I am human. Politicians are human. We give all that we can for as long as we can, and then it's time. And for me, it's time.

"But unfortunately I haven't (the energy to continue), and I would be doing a disservice to New Zealand to continue," she told reporters.

Ms Ardern was elected Prime Minister in 2017 at the age of 37. The two major happenings during her term were Christchurch mosque shootings where 51 people died and the White Island volcanic eruption. She quickly introduced gun law reforms. Wore a hijab.

She had won acclaim for her handling of the covid pandemic. And the Labour Party won a landslide victory in the general election in 2020. Ardern was re-elected for a second term. A general election is held every three years.

But later she came under severe criticism for enforcing strict covid restrictions. She was also under fire for rising cost of living. The party began losing popular support. So also Ms Ardern, of late.

"I hope I leave New Zealanders with a belief that you can be kind, but strong, empathetic but decisive, optimistic but focused. And that you can be your own kind of leader - one who knows when it's time to go," she said.

"She has given her all to this incredibly demanding job," Opposition National Party leader Chris Luxon tweeted.

Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Ms Ardern had made an "immeasurable" difference to the world.

Ms Ardern has a child from her partner Clarke Gayford, a television host, whom she will be marrying soon. The girl child was born during her prime ministership.