Jacinda Ardern has divided opinion despite her popularity in New Zealand. The hate speech against the former prime minister is still quite toxic.
15:33•Updated 16:20
Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern hoped that the resignation announcement would dim the strongest spotlight of the public.
Despite retiring as a rank-and-file member of parliament, New Zealand’s best-known politician remains in the headlines for at least a couple of weeks after announcing his resignation.
At the forefront of New Zealand media Reviewed by New Zealand Herald (you will be transferred to another service) this week, for example, the shrinking of the former prime minister’s salary.
According to the paper’s speculation, the transition to rank-and-file representative will reduce Ardern’s account to about a third of the annual prime ministerial income, estimated to be around 179,000 euros.
The forces ran out in the demanding task
Five years ago, Jacinda Ardern was the world’s youngest prime minister when she took office.
Now, at the age of 42, he is also the Labor Party’s third longest-serving prime minister. The notice of resignation less than two weeks ago was penniless.
– I know what this job requires. I no longer have the energy to continue as prime minister, said a moved Ardern.
He said that he will not run for office in the upcoming elections.
Ardern’s prime ministership was affected by, among other things, the devastating mosque attack in Christchurch in 2019 that claimed 51 lives, the corona pandemic and natural disasters caused by rain.
The relationship is still under consideration
New Zealand’s “First Man” Clarke Gayford has visibly supported her spouse throughout this prime ministerial term.
On the website of the TVNZ television channel (you will be transferred to another service) the reasons for the Prime Minister’s resignation have also been asked from Gayford, who works as a television journalist.
According to him, there was no “special reason” for the separation. He thanked his bride for her “superhuman endurance and humane heritage”.
“Dingdong, the witch is gone”
In New Zealand, the surprising resignation announcement has been digested for a couple of weeks. The flip side of Ardern’s popularity is very strong hate speech, which has also been part of the family’s 4-year-old daughter.
How top leaders and politicians cope in the toxic media climate is puzzling around the world. The flood of rude messages is also thought to be part of the reason for the resignation notice. Opponents of the Prime Minister do not seem to be greatly dampened by the separation.
For example The TVNZ channel tells (you switch to another service)that at the same time as the resignation announcement was still being digested in the Labor Party, a group of protesters criticizing the Prime Minister wished on a sign: “Dingdong, the witch is gone”.
A disinformation researcher interviewed by a TV channel Kate Hannah says threats against Ardern have tripled in the past three years.
Big challenges like the Christchurch mosque attack and managing the pandemic have drawn praise from supporters. The same topics have made immigration and vaccine-critical groups active.