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WELLINGTON – New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed on Tuesday that he successfully retained his leadership position following a vote among his party’s legislators. This decision came amid growing speculation about his future due to declining poll numbers.
The confidence vote took place during a routine assembly of the center-right National Party members, conducted behind closed doors. After the meeting, Luxon addressed the media, revealing that he had proactively initiated the vote to affirm his leadership, and was met with success.
“Over the past week, media outlets have intensely speculated about my position as leader,” Luxon remarked. He explained that by calling for a confidence vote, he aimed to dispel the ongoing rumors.
Luxon did not disclose the specifics of the vote count or confirm whether the decision was unanimous.
The National Party has been leading a right-wing coalition government in New Zealand since their victory in the 2023 elections. Luxon, who transitioned into politics after a career as a senior airline executive, has been at the helm of the party since 2021.
The vote among his lawmakers happened months before New Zealand’s next national election, scheduled for Nov. 7. Recent drops in the polls for National had prompted speculation from analysts that he would face a leadership challenge.
After an unusually long meeting of his caucus at Parliament in Wellington, which lasted two and a half hours, instead of the usual hour, Luxon read from a brief statement about the vote. He departed without taking questions from reporters.
While two recent New Zealand prime ministers — National’s John Key and Labour’s Jacinda Ardern — have voluntarily quit the post, it would have been extremely unusual for lawmakers to oust a sitting prime minister.
Luxon blamed reports of unrest within his part’s ranks on news outlets, but one political poll released days ago appeared to have made a discussion of leadership unavoidable. The 1News-Verian poll suggested slumping support for Luxon and for National in a hypothetical election.
The levels of support in the most recent poll implied the right-wing bloc led by his party could come in behind the left-wing bloc led by Labour if an election were held immediately, though the vote won’t occur for more than another six months.
“If the media want to keep focusing on speculation and rumor, I am not going to engage,” Luxon said Tuesday.
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