Jacinda Ardern has won a second term as New Zealand’s Prime Minister after her success at handling the country’s coronavirus outbreak helped secure a landslide victory.
With 87% of the votes counted, Ardern’s center-left Labour Party has won 48.9% of the vote, meaning her party looks likely to score the highest result that any party has achieved since the current political system was introduced in 1996.
“Tonight, New Zealand has shown the Labour Party its greatest support in at least 50 years,” Ardern said in a powerful victory speech on Saturday night where she referred to the difficult times ahead for New Zealand. “And I can promise you: we will be a party that governs for every New Zealander.”
Coalitions are the norm in New Zealand, where no single party has ever won a majority of votes under the current system.❐
