Chris Hopkins appointed PM of New Zealand
2023.01.21 02:52
Chris Hopkins appointed PM of New Zealand
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – After emerging as the sole candidate to lead the ruling Labour Party on Saturday, Chris Hipkins, who played a significant role in New Zealand’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is expected to succeed Jacinda Ardern as prime minister.
At Sunday’s meeting of Labour’s 64 lawmakers, or Caucus, Hipkins, 44, is expected to be named leader.
After the party announced him as the sole candidate, Hipkins told a news conference, “I think we’re an incredibly strong team.”
“We have successfully completed this process together, and we will continue to do so. I consider myself extremely fortunate to be collaborating with such an amazing group of individuals who are truly dedicated to serving New Zealanders.”
Hipkins, better known as “Chippy,” established a reputation for being adept at combating COVID-19 and served as Ardern’s troubleshooter when other cabinet ministers encountered difficulties.
He would not elaborate on his plans for the policy. Ardern said he would implement his proposal for a cabinet reshuffle, but he said he would keep Grant Robertson as finance minister.
He stated that he had spoken with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had a “warm discussion” with him, as stated in a tweet.
Ardern made a surprise announcement on Thursday that she would resign because she had “no more in the tank” to lead the country.
Hipkins rose to prominence as the face of the government’s pandemic response after being first elected to parliament in 2008 for the Labour Party. Before becoming the COVID response minister at the end of the year, he was appointed health minister in July 2020.
In addition to being the leader of the House, he is now the minister for police, education, and public service.
Stuff, a local media organization, was able to obtain a snap poll from Horizon Research on Friday, and the results showed that Hipkins was the most popular candidate among voters, with support from 26% of those polled.
Eva Murphy, a New Zealander, stated in Auckland that he faces a significant challenge.
She stated, “He won’t ever fill the shoes that Jacinda has.” “It will be interesting to see what Labour come out with in terms of the election campaign over the next year, and we’re looking forward to seeing what happens,” she added. “He won’t ever fill the shoes that Jacinda has.”
It is anticipated that Hipkins’ confirmation by Labour lawmakers on Sunday afternoon will be a formality. Before Hipkins is appointed, Ardern will then submit her resignation to the governor general of New Zealand.
Hipkins will serve as prime minister until the end of the party’s term if he is elected.
Some opinion polls show that Labour is trailing the opposition New Zealand National Party in the general election on October 14.
Based on data from before Ardern’s resignation announcement, a Taxpayers’ Union-Curia poll released on Friday found that Labour’s popularity had dropped to 31.7%, trailing the Nationals’ at 37.2%.
The traditional coalition partner of Labour, the New Zealand Green Party, said in a statement that they were looking forward to working with Hipkins.
Green Party co-leader James Shaw said, “Chris will make an excellent Prime Minister, and we look forward to continuing our work together, for the rest of this term and the next.”
