Jacinda Ardern Secures Second Term As New Zealand PM With A Landslide Victory

Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s youngest Prime Minister ever, has won a second term in the office. "Our plan is already in action and already working," said the leader after defeating National Party leader Judith Collins in a landslide victory. A total of 87 percent votes were cast in the election that was marred by COVID-19 and as per reports Ardern's center-left Labour Party has won with 48.9 percent of the vote.

Also Read:Jacinda Ardern Smiles Through An Earthquake In Interview

"But after this result, we have the mandate to accelerate our response and our recovery, and tomorrow we start," Ardern further told her supporters in her victory speech.  The opposition, National Party, only managed to secure 27 percent votes.

"Tonight, New Zealand has shown the Labour Party its greatest support in at least 50 years," Ardern, 40, said on Saturday referring to the difficult times ahead for New Zealand. "And I can promise you: we will be a party that governs for every New Zealander."

Kiwis have voted to keep New Zealand moving for three more years. Congrats to @jacindaardern and @nzlabour. pic.twitter.com/Sx4ag0PVtg

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) October 17, 2020

"Now more than ever is the time to keep going, to keep working, to grab hold of the opportunities that lay in front of us."

Jacinda Ardern praised for COVID-19 handling

Ardern's leadership skills, especially during the pandemic, have earned her worldwide praise. She was even named as one of the World’s Top 50 Thinkers of COVID-19 Age by UK-based Prospect Magazine. Jacinda Ardern took the second spot in the list that was led by Kerala’s Health Minister KK Shailaja.

In late May this year, under Ardern’s leadership, New Zealanders enjoyed 102 days without community transmission of coronavirus. "That light has always been more powerful than the most overwhelming darkness," she said assuring better economic management. “Let’s keep moving,” she asserted.

Also Read: Jacinda Arden To Be New Zealand’s Youngest PM

At 38, Ardern became the country’s youngest Prime Minister and New Zealand’s third female prime minister. “But most importantly thank you to the many people who gave us their vote, who trusted us to continue with leading New Zealand's recovery,” Ardern said citing that she will not take their support for granted.

Feature Image Credit: WikiCommons

Read More Stories By Ria Das