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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. “This is the greatest privilege and greatest responsibility of my life,” Hipkins said at the swearing-in ceremony.
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“I am curious and energized about the challenges ahead,” he said. 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. Sepuloni congratulated Hipkins and thanked him for putting his trust in him. Known as “Chippy”, Hipkins 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 the subject of discussion at the global level due to her new style of leadership. Ardern, who held the top post for almost five-and-a-half years, surprised her country by announcing her resignation from the post of Prime Minister last Thursday.(Agency)
