New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Resigns

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will step down in February.

Ardern made the shocking revelation on Thursday during a meeting with members of her Labour Party.

“For me it’s time. I just don’t have enough in the tank for another four years,” she said.

Recent polls show a decline in Ardern’s popularity as well as that of her party. She was appointed prime minister in a coalition government in 2017 and then led her center-left Labour Party to a resounding win in an election three years later.

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She stated during Labour’s annual caucus retreat that she had hoped to find the energy to continue as leader during the break, “but I have not been able to do that,” in her first public appearance since the start of the summer break a month ago.

Ardern stated that she would continue to serve as an electorate MP until the upcoming general election, which will take place on Saturday, October 14.

“I am not leaving, because I believe we cannot win the next election, but because I believe we can and will,” she said.

The Labour caucus will vote on a new leader on January 22, according to Ardern, who also stated that her departure would be effective no later than February 7.

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Grant Robertson, the deputy prime minister, said that he will not be running.

Ardern insisted that there was no secrecy behind her sudden departure.

“I am human. We give as much as we can for as long as we can and then it’s time. And for me, it’s time.

“I am leaving because with such a privileged job comes a big responsibility. The responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead — and also when you’re not.”