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Chris Hipkins was officially sworn in as New Zealand’s prime minister on Wednesday. He succeeds Jacinda Ardern, who surprised everyone last week by announcing her resignation.
In New Zealand, resigned Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was officially replaced on Wednesday, January 25 (local time), with the inauguration of her successor Chris Hipkins, at a ceremony in Wellington.
“This is the greatest privilege and the greatest responsibility of my life,” said Chris Hipkins, 44, stating that he was “motivated” and “excited” about the “challenges that lie ahead.”
Hipkins was praised for his nearly two years as Covid-19 minister in a country that closed its borders to protect itself from the pandemic and did not reopen them until August 2022.
Hundreds of people – MPs, staff, Kiwis – have come to farewell Jacinda Ardern as she heads to government house to resign as PM. She saw several MPs crying. pic.twitter.com/35H5Zo4dag
—Ben McKay (@benmackey) January 24, 2023
Degraded popularity
Jacinda Ardern, 42, shocked New Zealand by announcing her abrupt departure from power, less than three years after winning a second term in a landslide election victory. She declared last week that she did not have “sufficient energy” to continue in office after five years marked by a deadly volcanic eruption, the worst attack in the country’s history and the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I leave with a feeling of gratitude after playing this wonderful role for so many years,” she told reporters in Ratana (north) on Tuesday in her last public appearance as prime minister.
The popularity of his Labor government has waned in recent months due to the looming recession and a resurgence of the Conservative opposition.
Her resignation sparked a national debate about the denigration of women leaders, especially on social media. Chris Hipkins called the attacks she was subjected to during her tenure “absolutely abhorrent.”
But Jacinda Ardern said Tuesday she would “hate” her sudden departure to be seen as criticizing her country.
with AFP
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