Wellington : Chris Hipkins was sworn in as New Zealand’s 41st prime minister on Wednesday following the abrupt resignation of Jacinda Ardern last week. Hipkins, 44, has promised to focus on the economy. After becoming prime minister, Hipkins will hold office for less than nine months. There will be a general election in the country in October. According to pre-election polls, the position of the Labor Party is better than the main rival ‘National Party’.
Hipkins was sworn in after New Zealand Governor-General Cindy Kiro accepted Ardern’s resignation. “It is the greatest privilege and greatest responsibility of my life,” Hipkins said at the swearing-in ceremony. He said, ‘I am curious and energetic about the challenges ahead.’ Carmel Sepuloni sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister. For the first time in the country, a person belonging to the Pacific Island has been entrusted with the responsibility of this post.
New Zealand New PM: After Ardern’s resignation, Chris Hipkins will be the next Prime Minister of New Zealand, known as ‘political troubleshooter’
Hipkins came in the public eye
Sepuloni congratulated Hipkins and thanked him for putting his trust in him. Popularly known as ‘Chippy’, Hipkins has served under Ardern as education and policing minister. Hipkins came into the public eye during the COVID-19 pandemic for playing a key role in managing the crisis, but it was Ardern who attracted the most attention in government.
She became a topic of discussion at the global level due to her innovative style of leadership. Ardern, who held the top post for nearly five-and-a-half years, surprised her country last Thursday by announcing her resignation as prime minister.
