The New Zealand Labor government, in difficulty since the surprise resignation of former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern ten months ago, conceded defeat on Saturday October 14 in the legislative elections to a center-right coalition.
The National Party and the ACT Party, forming a center-right coalition, are projected to win 65 seats, more than a majority of the 120 seats in the South Pacific country’s Parliament.
Chris Hipkins, who replaced Jacinda Ardern as prime minister, said he was “in no position to form a government” and congratulated opposition leader Chris Luxon. The Labor Party, which had achieved a landslide victory in the last legislative elections in 2020, was heading for a severe defeat with a projection of 32 seats.
Christopher Luxon, 53, leader of the National Party and former CEO of Air New Zealand, is widely tipped to succeed him. “Based on the numbers we have now, it looks like the National Party and ACT will be able to form the next government,” said the former businessman who says he only sleeps five hours a night and doesn’t expect only entered politics in 2019, but was immediately seen as a future leader. New Zealanders “searched for hope and voted for change”, he said. “I promise you the National Party will deliver for every New Zealander,” he added, promising to “rebuild the economy and cut taxes.”
Promise of tax cuts
Labor had suffered a severe decline in the polls due to a succession of government scandals and rising food and fuel prices, with inflation expected to exceed 6% this year. Mr. Luxon promised a tax cut of around 280 euros per month for a middle-class family, saying he wanted to finance it with a tax on luxury homes owned by foreigners.
The former business executive hopes to be able to come to power with the deputies of his National Party or by allying himself with the conservative ACT party. He may also have to seek support from New Zealand First, a small populist party led by 78-year-old Winston Peters.
The Labor Party has remained in power for six years, first led by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. His center-left government was praised in particular for having quickly closed the borders in early 2020, protecting the country from the Covid-19 pandemic. She was also congratulated for her management of the disasters of 2019: a volcanic eruption that killed 22 people, and the attack on the Christchurch mosque where 51 people were killed. But Jacinda Ardern resigned in January to spend more time with her partner and daughter.
His successor’s short tenure was marked by other natural disasters – devastating floods and cyclone Gabrielle – as well as internal problems that forced him to undergo four reshuffles in a few months.
