New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is resigning

The backstory: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is a member of NZ's Labor Party and a popular global figure of the left. She was the world's youngest female government head when she was elected in 2017. Ardern has been recognized for leading the nation after its worst-ever mass shooting (the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings that killed 51 people) and for her administration's response to the pandemic. After the shootings, Ardern introduced gun law reforms, wore a hijab to show respect for the country's Muslim community and wouldn't speak the shooter's name. When COVID became a threat, she led the government to set up strict border rules, which were in place for almost two years. She's also taken the lead on major climate change policies.

More recently: Over the past year, Ardern has gotten threats of violence against her, mainly coming from conspiracy theorists and anti-vaccine groups who oppose her vaccine mandate and lockdown orders. There were rumors of her resignation last year, but in late 2022, Ardern said she had no intention of leaving office.

The development: On Thursday, Ardern announced that she would be resigning from office and would leave by February 7. She did say that the dangers of her role and declining popularity were not the reason she was leaving. Basically, she's stepping down because she feels too burnt out to carry out the responsibilities of her job. The Labor Party will vote for a new leader on Sunday, and in October, there will be another general election.

Key comments:

"I am not leaving because it was hard," New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said during a resignation speech to reporters. "Had that been the case I probably would have departed two months into the job. I am leaving because with such a privileged role comes responsibility, the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead and also when you are not. I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice. It is that simple. I would be doing a disservice to New Zealand to continue."

“She is celebrated throughout the world but her government has plummeted in the polls,” said Bryce Edwards, a political scientist at New Zealand’s Victoria University of Wellington, on Ardern’s resignation being “shocking” but not totally surprising.

"Jacinda Ardern has shown the world how to lead with intellect and strength,” said Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. She has demonstrated that empathy and insight are powerful leadership qualities. Jacinda has been a fierce advocate for New Zealand, an inspiration to so many and a great friend to me."