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© Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.New Zealand's Ardern credits virus response for election win
By NICK PERRY AUCKLAND, New Zealand©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
23 Comments
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Akula
One of the few times where Ardern is telling the truth. Her government's largely successful response to COVID-19 is what won them the election.
Last year she was resoundingly booed at Eden Park at an All Blacks game. That would not have happened had she attended today's game.
Sal Affist
I'd like to be able to be in a cafe with so many people sitting so close, and no masks and no plastic sheets or plexiglass anywhere in the picture. The Kiwis gave her a renewed mandate because they understand how good they have it, compared to the rest of the world.
EvilBuddha
Not to take away anything from her victory, but it is far easier to control the virus in a country with less than 5 million people. The idiot running my country has botched up the virus response but he will probably still win the election if it were to be held today.
Haaa Nemui
Actually Trump might like a few appreciative words over this. If not for his scathing review of how it was being handled in NZ, people might not have stood up and said “screw you, we’re voting her in again”
Cricky
I'm happy for her 3 more years, good or bad it's 3 more years. Landslide so she has done something right. Act on the promised change from last time, she can do it. I believe she is genuine in her intentions. Can't wait for the referendum results.
Not elitest can mix with the population because she is the population. It's refreshing.
awomde
That is the crux of the matter ... in the last opinion poll before Covid hit her party was trailing 46% to 41% ... and she was looking at getting voted out of office ... after Covid it all changed and Labour went up to 60% and settled at the election with 49% ... meanwhile the opposition National party imploded with 3 leaders in the space of 3 months and went from 46% to just 27% at the election
Domestically her government has been a shambolic failure with a litany of broken/fulfilled promises and scandals galore yet due to Covid gets rewarded with majority government now
Ironically after 3 weeks of no local Covid cases, a day after the election it is announced a new Covid case reported in the community
TorafusuTorasan
@Cricky--good point about her being non elitist. In contrast, America's DonT never goes out to restaurants in DC where he supposedly lives and works. He has to fly back to NYC, Bedminster or Mar A Lago just to have a meal around the public, who even then are private club members. Amazing all the travel $750 in taxes got converted into.
Toasted Heretic
I imagine that terrifies the powerful males, especially those who believe they are entitled to rule over nations. Look at the vitriol and scorn to "left leaning" politicians like AOC in the US, or any vaguely liberal female politician in any country.
Moderator
Back on topic please.
dagon
Awesome Ardern! Nothing to do with her gender in particular but she addressed the pandemic taking into account the welfare of the people she lead, listening to the advice of the those best equipped to address the pandemic crisis and correctly attending to the economic externalities . A model for future generations unlike the posturing buffoons at the head of so many governments.
yoshisan88
In my culture, there is a saying "circumstance makes one to become a hero". Covid-19 had given J.A. the prefect opportunity to boost her popularity.
I cannot agree more. I have been saying this for many months that J.A. has done the right things to contain the virus but she has some winning factors like 5 million population in a country the size of Japan, relatively low population density in cities etc to help her. Therefore it is not fair to compare NZ to other countries like Japan, UK etc.
fxgai
Whoops, another one. Who’d have thunk it.
At least their election campaign was successful :)
itsonlyrocknroll
Congratulation to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Going to need something akin to a five loafs and two fish's approach to the economy.
Charles Smith
New Zealand’s Prime Minister addressed the nation after her Labour Party secured a landslide victory in the 2019 election. The Labour Party won the election, which was originally set for September but was delayed by a month due to the coronavirus pandemic, with a majority of 49 percent.
https://worldabcnews.com/jacinda-ardern-calls-for-unity-after-winning-second-term-as-new-zealand-prime-minister-world-news/
Haaa Nemui
I think I slept through that one.
fxgai
Didn’t say it was a disaster.
They keep claiming they’ve eliminated the virus, at the cost of keeping tourists locked out, etc. but it keeps popping up.
Not sure what we are supposed to learn from this example.
fxgai
This is article seems pretty well grounded, away from the basking in an election victory:
https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN27309O?il=0
My suspicion is, Ardern will be resigning as PM during the next term as the going keeps being tough, and she might have another baby she’ll prefer to spend more time with.
ReynardFox
There have been more cases of Covid in the White House alone in the last month than in the whole of New Zealand. If one case is a ‘whoopsie’ then I think we can agree 35 is an earth-shattering disaster, yes?
Strangerland
A smaller population makes it easier.
But the most important thing is competent leadership, and reasonable citizens. If either of those two are absent, the covid response is pathetic.
EvilBuddha
"Is it even logical to suggest the population size has anything to do with the spread of a virus."
A smaller population makes it easier to track, test and isolate. It is easier to quarantine suspected cases. It is easier to enforce lockdowns. It is easier to prosecute people who fail to adhere to lockdown guidelines. So yeah, its quite logical to suggest that she would not have been able to manage a bigger country with the same efficiency that she has shown in NZ.