New Zealand's Ardern storms to re-election with 'be strong, be kind' mantra

[Eugene]

Last edited Sat Oct 17, 2020, 09:33 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: Reuters

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Jacinda Ardern turned speaking from the heart and smiling through adversity into a winning formula for a blowout re-election as New Zealand’s leader on Saturday.

Now Ardern, who made a name for herself by crushing COVID-19 in the country and healing the nation after a massacre of Muslims by a white supremacist, faces a challenge to show her leadership extends beyond crisis management and kindness.

Her Labour Party won a landslide victory in the general election, a resounding mandate that ushers in New Zealand’s first purely left-leaning government in decades and may allow her to form a single-party government.

The win is also the reward for Ardern’s leadership through a series of extraordinary events that shaped her first three-year term: the gunman’s massacre of 51 worshippers at two Christchurch mosques and the eruption of the White Island volcano, which killed 21.

-snip-

EMERGING MARKETS
OCTOBER 17, 2020 7:34 AM UPDATED 2 HOURS AGO
By Praveen Menon
5 MIN READ


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-newzealand-election-newsmaker/new-zealands-ardern-storms-to-re-election-with-be-strong-be-kind-mantra-idUSKBN2720HI

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EDIT: updated with newer Reuters article

Original Reuters article:

Ardern wins landslide re-election in New Zealand vote

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s centre-left Labour Party won a landslide victory in New Zealand’s general election on Saturday as voters rewarded her for a decisive response to COVID-19.

The mandate means Ardern, 40, could form the first single-party government in decades, and face the challenge of delivering on the progressive transformation she promised but failed to deliver in her first term, where Labour shared power with a nationalist party.

“This is a historic shift,” said political commentator Bryce Edwards of Victoria University in Wellington, describing the vote as one of the biggest swings in New Zealand’s electoral history in 80 years.

Labour was on track to win 64 of the 120 seats in the country’s unicameral parliament, the highest by any party since New Zealand adopted a proportional voting system in 1996.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-newzealand-election/ardern-wins-landslide-re-election-in-new-zealand-vote-idUSKBN2712ZE

[Sherman A1]

1. K&R!

[Lonestarblue]

2. This is what happens when you have an effective leader.

I hope voters here reward Trump for his completely incompetent performance with the pandemic by giving him the boot. I think we will.

[OnDoutside]

3. It can't be understated the rareness of one party winning an overall majority

under Proportional Representation. It is a massive achievement by Ardern, and well deserved.

[Aussie105]

4. Apparently, in politics,

being a nice, sincere person who actually cares about people in the country they run and live in, is important?

Who would have thought?

But Jacinda Ardern is a shining jewel in a global sea of bland, older male faces when it comes to politics.

There is an important lesson in that for America, if only they could see that.

[paleotn]

5. that's good news!

[mysteryowl]

6. Yeah! She is fantastic! Thanks for posting!

CONGRATULATIONS JACINDA!!

CONGRATULATIONS NEW ZEALAND!!

FYI: if I remember right, the conservative party "King Maker" selected her for the top job last time.
They have a functioning society!

[ihas2stinkyfeet]

7. when women run, women win. then everyone wins.

[Illumination]

8. She's the best leader on earth! Why did America not get someone like her? Instead we got a

BIG FAT ZERO!...

[SunSeeker]

9. Wow, people like competence and honesty. Who knew?

Apparently folks also like a leader who listens to scientists and takes public health seriously.

It's looking like it might be a trend...

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

10. Her judgment/leadership regarding Covid control was flawless.

The exact opposite of Trump's tragic, epic failure of leadership and judgment.

[RobertDevereaux]

11. Now...

Now let us be sure to give Trump and every damned Republican on the ballot their reward of a swift retirement in disgrace for the 200,000 and rising unnecessary American deaths they have let happen from monstrous neglect and so much more.

[ArizonaLib]

14. Yes! it is possible!

These things are possible. Let's do it!

[IronLionZion]

12. Can you imagine an American politician running on "Be Kind"?

Congrats Prime Minister.

I hope we can have a left leaning government win a landslide here in the US next month.

[nwliberalkiwi]

13. Great Nation

My wife and I having lived and worked in New Zealand are extremely pleased with the election that has just occurred in New Zealand. What a great nation. Now let's kick the crap out of the Republicans!!! We can make this a better nation!!!

[ArizonaLib]

15. If this country ever needed anything, it is a similar election result

Kia ora!

[BlueWavePsych]

16. Handling Covid19 crisis well resulted in LANDSLIDE victory!

Last edited Sun Oct 18, 2020, 10:06 AM - Edit history (1)

Hmmm. Take nothing for granted. GOTV