In the video: Ardern announces a 3-day closure in Oakland following the discovery of 3 corona cases (Photo: Reuters)
A new prime minister was elected in New Zealand during the night (Sunday), after the surprising resignation of Jacinda Ardern last week.
Chris Hipkins, the country's education and police minister, was elected to the post by a majority vote while he was the only candidate from the Labor Party to replace him.
The 44-year-old Hipkins said yesterday that accepting the position of prime minister is the greatest responsibility of his life at the same time as the greatest privilege he has received.
"The weight of responsibility of the position still permeates me," he said at his first press conference since his candidacy.
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Ardern's replacement.
The incoming Prime Minister of New Zealand, Chris Hipkins (Photo: Reuters, Reuters)
Jacinda Ardern, one of the most popular former Prime Ministers of New Zealand, announced her resignation from the post last Thursday.
At the Labor Party conference, Ardern said that the reason for her retirement is that she does not have the necessary energy to continue serving in the position, which she has held since 2017. ", she said.
During his tenure, Hipkins will have to convince the citizens of the country to give the Labor party another term in power, and a victory in the upcoming elections that should be held this October.
According to Ardern, she will not stand for re-election in the elections.
This is not because she is afraid that she will not win, but rather because she is convinced that her party can win.
The popular Prime Minister, Jessica Ardern (Photo: Reuters)
In his acceptance speech for the new position, Hipkins addressed his predecessor: "She was an amazing prime minister. She provided calm and stable leadership, which I also hope to continue to do," he said.
He referred to some of the challenges that Ardern faced, including threats and riots, especially during the Corona period.
"Our prime minister, Jacinda, suffered from intolerable and completely unacceptable behavior."
The question of the new deputy prime minister has not yet been decided - the vote will take place during the day.
Hipkins did not respond to the question of whether he would choose a woman to serve alongside him, but said: "For the first time in New Zealand's history, we have a gender-balanced parliament. Women are going to occupy senior positions in our parliament. That's good, that's fantastic, and we should be proud of that as a country."
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