Jacinda Arden refreshed the image of heads of state. Not only thanks to her age – she was 37 when she was elected Prime Minister of New Zealand -, but above all by her benevolent style and tone which clash with that of her American and Brazilian counterparts in particular. In October 2017, the start of his first term, Donald Trump is President of the United States, Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil. During the Covid, she distinguished herself by her good management of the health crisis.
After the attack perpetrated by a white supremacist in two mosques in Christchurch, she marked international public opinion with her inclusive speeches… But after having experienced immense popularity, especially abroad, she ended up exhausted in the face of the difficulties encountered on the internal plan and has just announced his resignation. A look back at five key moments that marked the governance of this 42-year-old Labor Party.
#1 A baby in history
Jacinda Ardern made history in September 2018, when she appeared at the UN’s annual General Assembly with her three-month-old daughter, Neve. It was the first time a woman leader had brought her baby into the vast United Nations chamber.
She was the second prime minister in history to give birth while in office, after Benazir Bhutto in 1990.
Jacinda Ardern, by Ségolène Royal: “She has become a model who inspires the whole world”
“I want to make it more normal”Jacinda Ardern told CNN, hoping that by showing herself like this “more open, it could pave the way for other women”.
She announced her pregnancy in January, paying tribute to working mothers:
“I am not the first woman to work while having a baby. I am aware of the particular circumstances that affect me but many women have done it before me. »
#2 Christchurch Attack
Jacinda Ardern has been hailed for her response to the March 2019 Christchurch bombing, the country’s worst ever.
A white supremacist had stormed into two mosques in the city during Friday prayers, killing 51 people and injuring 40.
A scarf on her head, she had comforted the families of the victims after the shooting, an attitude hailed worldwide. Later, she explained that this gesture was spontaneous and a sign of respect towards the Muslim community.
During the national ceremony for the victims of the attack, Jacinda Arden spoke touching words in Arabic: “Salam Aleikoum”, “Peace be with you”. An excerpt to review in the video below.
#3 Prohibition of semi-automatic weapons
After this double killing, Jacinda Arden’s New Zealand took the opposite path to that taken by Donald Trum’s United States and decided to ban the sale of assault rifles and semi-automatic rifles.
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Video Jacinda Arden bans semi-automatic weapons
She has been applauded for swiftly enacting these gun law reforms and pushing social media to tackle online hate speech.
Nine months later, Jacinda Ardern had comforted in an exemplary way her nation shocked by the volcanic eruption of White Island, which had left 22 dead and fifty injured, some of them seriously.
#4 “Covid election”
The leader won a second term after a landslide victory for Labor in the 2020 legislative elections, due in particular to an impressive wave of sympathy described by the media as “Jacindamania” in reference to the first name of Jacinda Ardern thus hailed for her good management of the Covid-19.
She then dubbed the poll“Covid Elections”fully focusing his campaign on the success of his policy to fight the pandemic.
Covid-19: women politicians ensure
The archipelago of five million inhabitants had recorded only 25 deaths due in particular to draconian health measures and a strict closure of the borders to travelers arriving from abroad. New Zealand only fully reopened its borders in August 2022, recording a total of 2,437 deaths.
In November 2021, live on her Facebook account for an update on health restrictions, she was interrupted by her daughter who refused to go to bed:
#5 Incredible composure
Interviewed live on television, Jacinda Arden showed incredible composure as she remained calm as a 5.6 magnitude earthquake rocked New Zealand’s North Island.
The tremor occurred at a depth of 52 kilometers offshore, some 90 kilometers north of Wellington. According to the New Zealand seismic monitoring service GeoNet, there were about 40 aftershocks. Rescuers and police said they were unaware of any casualties or material damage. There was no tsunami warning.
10 things to know about Jacinda Ardern, the very popular Prime Minister of New Zealand
But all good things must end. Despite widespread plebiscite throughout her two terms, Jacinda Ardern has recently seen her party and her personal popularity ratings plummet in the polls as New Zealand’s economic situation deteriorates and right-wing opposition resumes. forces.
Recent polls give the advantage, for this election, to be held on October 14, to a centre-right coalition to the detriment of the Labor Party.
Last month, Jacinda Ardern’s stress was evident when she was unwittingly caught on the microphone calling an opposition official “arrogant asshole”.
