CNN
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Chris Hipkins, New Zealand’s education minister, is bidding to replace Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, following her shocking resignation announcement earlier this week.
Hipkins emerged as the only candidate nominated for leadership of the ruling Labor party on Saturday morning.
Duncan Webb said the Labor Party caucus will meet on Sunday to formally confirm and confirm Hipkins as leader.
of New Zealand next general election scheduled for October 14.
Hipkins is a professional politician who entered Parliament in 2008 and has become a household name leading New Zealand’s pandemic management as covid-19 response minister in Ardern’s cabinet. In addition to his position as minister of education, he is also minister of police and public service, as well as Leader of the House of Commons.
Speaking to reporters after the nominations closed at 9am local time in Wellington, he said he wanted to reach a consensus on who was “best to lead the Labor party”. , and so New Zealand moves forward”.
“I am completely humbled and honored,” he said, then adding, “there is still a bit of work to be done in this process. There’s still a meeting tomorrow and a vote, and I don’t want to go too far on that.”
The minister went on to thank his party members, saying “we have gone through this process with solidarity and we will continue to do it.”
He pledged to lead the country in a “strong, stable and unified way” but warned that many challenges lie ahead.
“I acknowledge that at the moment we are going through some economic uncertainty and we will have to find a way through that,” he said.
Hipkins also told reporters he was “extremely optimistic about the future of New Zealand” and was “really looking forward to the job. I am feeling energized and enthusiastic.”
He served nearly two years as Covid-19 response minister in a country that has kept infection and death rates relatively low after closing its borders. He also oversees New Zealand phased reopening before fully welcoming back all international travel last july.
Ardern said on Thursday that she would stand aside for a new leader, saying she did not believe she had the energy to run for re-election.
Speaking at a later press conference, Ardern said her term would end on February 7, when she expected a new Labor prime minister to be sworn in – although “depending on the situation”. depending on the process which may be earlier.
Hipkins said Ardern – whose tenure coincides with a terrorist attacknatural disasters and global pandemics – is “the leader we need at the time we need it.”
And he admits that, like Ardern, he will open himself up to “a lot of scrutiny and a lot of criticism” by putting his name forward.
“I started this job with my eyes wide open, knowing what I had and where I was going,” says Hipkins.
