- Former New Zealand Police and Education Minister Chris Hipkins is to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
- Labor politician Duncan Webb said the 44-year-old was the sole candidate for leadership of the ruling Labor party.
- His nomination has yet to be formally confirmed by a party committee meeting on Sunday.
At a press conference, Hipkins described the nomination as a great privilege. “It’s also a huge responsibility,” he said. He is a “hard worker” committed to leaving New Zealand in better shape than he found it.
Legend:
Big footsteps don’t deter him: the studied political scientist and criminologist Hipkins.
Keystone/BEN MCKAY
Ardern has distinguished herself through the country’s most challenging years with her calm and stable leadership. “I hope to do the same, even though we’re different people,” Hipkins said.
Ardern lacks the strength
Jacinda Ardern, 42, who has ruled the country since 2017, surprisingly announced on Thursday that she would step down by February 7 and said she lacked the strength to continue.
She is expected to step down shortly before Hipkins is then sworn in as the country’s 41st prime minister. He is then to lead the country in the elections scheduled for October 14.