New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said she is resigning, in a shock announcement as she confirmed a national election in October later this year. “For me it’s time,” she said at a meeting of members of her Labour Party. “I just don’t have enough in the tank for another four years.”
Ardern choked up as she detailed how six “challenging” years in the job had taken a toll. She will step down as Labour Party leader no later than 7 February. There will be a vote in the coming days to determine her replacement. She will continue as an MP until the general election to be held on 14 October.
Ardern, 42, became the youngest female head of government in the world when she was elected prime minister in 2017, aged 37. She also led the Labour Party to a landslide election victory in 2020.
She has never shied away from carrying her baby around while performing her duties. Well, she does not need any applause for that because she knows she is not the first woman who multitasks. During her tenure as the Prime Minister, Ardern has faced one crisis after another and she made sure to not leave any stone unturned.
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Jacinda Ardern hugs a woman in the aftermath of the Christchurch shooting
Her approach to dealing with the greatest crisis of our times, COVID-19, has won her praises from all around the world as New Zealand till date has managed to keep the number of deaths to 25. She even voluntarily took a 20 percent cut in her pay to ‘close the gap’ between herself and those economically affected by COVID-19. Ardern declared free pads for young women in school from 2021 and is also the first prime minister of New Zealand to march in a gay pride calling for more support for LGBTQAI community. If there is a definition of what a leader in this day and age should be like, Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand totally fits the part.
This women's day, let's take a look at these Jacinda Ardern quotes that prove she's a feminist in every sense.
Suggested Reading: “It’s Time”: Jacinda Ardern To Step Down As New Zealand Prime Minister
7 Inspiring Jacinda Ardern Quotes
On co-parenting with her partner
"I have a partner who can be alongside me, who's taking up a huge part of that joint responsibility because he is a parent too, he's not a babysitter".
On raising her daughter
"I hope that she (her daughter) doesn't have any sense of what girls can do or can't do. That it’s just not a concept for her".
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On women's rights
"It’s a women's decision about when they choose to have a children, and it should not predetermine whether or not they are given a job or have job opportunities".
On being a leader
"I want to be a good leader and not a good lady leader. I don't want to be known as the woman who gave birth".
On dreaming big
"This stardust won't settle because none of us should settle".
On female guilt
"I do find it difficult. I go through the exact same emotion any other parent does when I’m away from her for a period of time... The guilt of whether or not I’m a good enough daughter, sister, partner, mother – show me a woman who doesn’t."
On aiming high
"Never feel like you have to tick all of the boxes on everything to be able to feel like you can do a job. I have heard it said many times before, and it is so true."
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