Jairam Ramesh: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh Thursday praised New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for her decision to step down from her post. He said, “Indian politics needs more like her”.
“Legendary cricket commentator, Vijay Merchant once said about retiring at the peak of his career: Go when people ask why is he going instead of why isn’t he going. Kiwi PM, Jacinda Ardern has just said she is quitting following Merchant’s maxim,” Ramesh tweeted.
Also Read: New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern says she will step down next month
Jacinda not to seek re-election
Ardern announced on Thursday that she will not be seeking re-election after her term as the PM of New Zealand ends on February 7. She called it the most “fulfilling five and a half years” of her life, and said she had “no more in the tank” to continue leading the country.
The 42-year-old leader Ardern had tears in her eyes when she said at a news conference in Napier, “This summer, I had hoped to find a way to prepare for not just another year, but another term – because that is what this year requires. I have not been able to do that.”
Posts on Facebook
Ardern also posted the speech on her Facebook profile.
“I know there will be much discussion in the aftermath of this decision as to what the so-called ‘real’ reason was… The only interesting angle you will find is that after going on six years of some big challenges, that I am human,” she continued.
“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,” Ardern said.
The ruling New Zealand Labour Party will vote for a new leader on Sunday to decide the new PM till the next general election on October 14.
Ardern’s empathetic handling of the nation’s worst mass-shooting and health-driven response to the COVID-19 pandemic led her to become an international icon. However, she has faced mounting criticism at home, over issues like inflation which rose to nearly three-decade highs, the central bank increasing the cash rate, and increasing crimes in the country, reports said.
Also Read: US attempts to reduce wait time for Indian visa applicants
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