New Zealand’s former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she believes that even an anxious and sensitive person can serve as Prime Minister.
Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made his last speech in the New Zealand Parliament on Wednesday. Dressed in a korowai cloak donated by Maori, Ardern also dealt with difficult feelings and her own insecurities in her emotional farewell speech.
– I was a caretaker. I expected everything that could go wrong would go wrong, Ardern said.
In her speech, Ardern thanked her family and supporters and reviewed her term as Prime Minister, which began in 2017. The period was affected by, for example, the Christchurch terrorist attack in 2019 and the corona pandemic.
Ardern said she believed she had expanded the role of prime minister during her tenure.
– Can be anxious, sensitive, kind and show your feelings. You can be a mother or not. May or may not be a former Mormon. Can be a geek, a crybaby and a hugger. You can be all of these and still be here and lead. Just like me, Ardern said.
Ardern, who represented the Labor Party, resigned as prime minister in January and also announced her retirement from politics. He reasoned at the time that he no longer had the resources to continue in the position.
Ardern was an internationally known and popular politician, but domestically her support melted towards the end of the season. According to a study by the University of Auckland, Ardern received 50 times more online hate than any other public figure in New Zealand.
Successor Chris Hipkins appointed Ardern on Tuesday as an ambassador for Christchurch Call. The organization founded by Ardern aims to combat extremist thinking together with states and companies.
Reuters: AFP, Reuters