New Zealand opposition leader steps down before election

World
Europe

Andrew Little, leader of New Zealand's Labor Party, resigned on Tuesday, leaving the new leader with less than two months heading into the general election due on September 23.

Little said in an announcement ahead of the Labor Party caucus meeting on Tuesday that the results of various polls last week were "disturbing and very, very disappointing."

According to the poll by UMR revealed to public last week, support for the Labor Party was just 23 percent. Another poll, the One News Colmar Brunton poll, released on Sunday night showed that the Labor had 24 percent support from the voters, the worst result in 20 years. The Green Party, a partner of the Labor in this year's election, has 15 percent in both polls.

Andrew Little (center R) and Jacinda Ardern (center L) during a caucus meeting at Parliament in Wellington, March 7, 2017. /AFP Photo‍

The National Party, the ruling party of New Zealand, has a support rate of 42 percent and 47 percent in the two polls.

Little said he took the responsibility as the leader of the party. He said the party and the people they are campaigning for "will be better served by a new leader who can bring a new face and a fresh voice." Little was elected leader in 2014 after Labor's failure to end up the government led by the National Party since 2008.

Jacinda Ardern, Labor's former deputy leader, was confirmed to be Litte's replacement.

Little said on Tuesday that he "100 percent" supported Ardern to be the new leader of the Labor Party.

Ardern said the resignation of Little is unexpected and that the Labor team look forward to the campaign and will work out a plan for the General Election.

The Labor Party's Maori Development spokesman Kelvin Davis was selected as Ardern's deputy. Davis is believed to be the first Maori to be the deputy leader of the Labor Party.

New deputy leader of the Labor Party Kelvin Davis at Parliament in Wellington, Aug. 1, 2017. /AFP Photo

Some analysts from local media said Little took the right decision at the right time as he lost confidence from the Labor caucus. Other analysts, however, said the resignation would be a risk for the party because it is very difficult for the party to win voters confidence as an alternative government.

(With inputs from Xinhua)