New Zealand’s Education Minister Chris Hipkins will be the new New Zealand Prime Minister, replacing Jacinda Ardern, who resigned on Thursday and will officially leave office on February 7.
Hipkins has been the only nominee of the Labor Party, whose leader has highlighted in a statement that the assembly of the political formation will meet on Sunday to endorse his leadership, as reported by ‘NZ Herald’.
Nominations for candidates closed at 9.00 a.m. (local time) this Friday. In addition to Hipkins’ name, other possibilities were being considered, such as Justice Minister Kiri Allan or Transport Minister Michael Wood, although finally only Hipkins has been nominated.
The minister, who has also held the Police portfolio since last June, is a man of Ardern’s confidence and became known as a result of his position in the COVID-19 Response portfolio, which earned him some controversy.
In fact, the Labour member of Parliament since 2008 apologized and admitted that he disclosed personal and incorrect information about the then journalist Charlotte Bellis, from Al Jazeera channel, who had to give birth in Afghanistan because she could not return to New Zealand due to the strict measures against the virus.
HIPKINS: «I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING DOWN TO WORK».
The next Labour leader and prime minister of New Zealand has said he is honored by the party’s support and is looking forward to «getting down to work.»
«I feel full of energy and enthusiasm, and I am eager to get down to work,» said Hipkins in his first statement to the press since it is known that he will be the next ‘premier’ of the Oceanic country, according to ‘NZ Herald’.
Hipkins stressed that the country can expect him to show «absolute devotion and dedication» to lead the government and do «the best possible».
«I think we are an incredibly strong team (…) I am incredibly optimistic about the future of the country», said the still Education Minister, affirming that «it is a great day for a guy from Hutt», the city where he comes from.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
