Farewell in New Zealand – Ardern relieved: ‘Slept well for the first time’

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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she is relieved at her decision to step down in the coming weeks. “I slept well last night for the first time in a long time,” the 42-year-old said Friday (see video above).

On Thursday, the Labor politician tearfully announced that she wants to step down as prime minister on February 7. “Of course I am still going through a range of emotions. I am sad, but I also feel relieved,” Ardern said with a laugh to journalists at Napier Airport in New Zealand the next day. She was particularly moved by the many thank yous she had received since then.

“Not Enough in the Tank”
Ardern said on Thursday she did not have the strength to continue as prime minister. “I know what it takes for this job and I know I don’t have enough in the tank anymore. It’s that simple.” Ardern, who became head of government in 2017 and was confirmed in office in the 2020 parliamentary elections, has had to overcome several serious crises in recent years.

In particular, her approach to the bloody attacks in Christchurch, in which a right-wing extremist shot 51 Muslims in two mosques in 2019, earned her a lot of recognition abroad. In December 2019, more than 20 people died in a volcanic eruption on White Island, and Corona struck a few months later.

“Remains a Lighthouse”
The outgoing head of government expressed respect for ex-NEOS boss Matthias Strolz on Twitter on Thursday. “She was, is and will continue to be a beacon,” though he thought her Covid policies were “wrong,” he wrote.

Ardern became a mother in 2018 and wants to spend more time with her family in the future. A new leader of the Labor Party will be elected on Sunday. Her possible successor is Chris Hipkins, who served as Pandemic Containment Minister during the Corona crisis. The next general election will take place on October 14.

Source: Krone

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