In video, the New Zealand Prime Minister forgets her open microphone and calls her political rival an “arrogant asshole”

Betrayed by her microphone, Jacinda Ardern made a slight mistake broadcast on the New Zealand parliamentary channel on Tuesday, December 13.

The country's prime minister called her political rival David Seymour, leader of the Liberal Party ACT, an "arrogant asshole".

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The object of his anger?

The intervention of the latter, who invited her a few moments earlier to “cite an error for which she apologized and which she repaired”.

The 40-year-old replied that the successive confinements had been difficult for New Zealanders, adding nevertheless that she supported the work done by the government.

Before sitting down again, thinking his microphone was off, and insulting his political rival.

Jacinda Ardern's apology

Only downside, the comment was heard separately by parliamentarians, and broadcast on television.

David Seymour then approached the Speaker of the House, Adrian Rurawhe, asking him to demand an apology from Jacinda Ardern, and that she withdraw her remark.

A request rejected by the principal concerned, because the Prime Minister had already left the premises.

Since then, a spokesperson for the 40-year-old revealed that she had apologized to the deputy – and this, by text message, according to David Seymour.

This mea culpa, however, did not seem to move him.

“The apologies we are really waiting for are for New Zealanders who are worried about rising prices (…)”, he said in particular.