Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand's next Prime Minister!! This is huge! Labour Party & Greens.

[Equinox Moon]

10/19/2017

Jacinda Ardern has become New Zealand’s youngest prime minister, 26 days after the country went to the polls. The kingmaker, Winston Peters, said on Thursday that his New Zealand First party would support Ardern’s Labour party to create a coalition, displacing Bill English’s (Right Wing) National party with Jacinda Ardern, to be New Zealand's next PM after Labour coalition deal.

This happened in just 3 months from start to finish! The 3rd term right wingnut is out!!!

Congratulations Jacinda Ardern! She will make a great PM.

[Equinox Moon]

1. Why did this not post to the front page of DU?

[Equinox Moon]

2. New Zealand

[Doreen]

3. If DU is happy she won it must be good.

I do not understand the Labour and green party over there. What is she offering her country? Is she like Obama? Merkel? Trudeau? Clinton ( either one? )

[Jim Lane]

4. The clip says she wants to cut immigration and offer free education

It makes me think she's advocating the democratic socialism that's typical of the major center-left party in almost every industrialized country in the world, but that she's willing to go along with the anti-immigration sentiment that energizes right-wing candidates like Trump and Le Pen.

From her Wikipedia bio:

Ardern has described herself as a social democrat,[3] a progressive,[60] a republican,[61] and a feminist.[62] She has cited Helen Clark as a political hero.[63] In her parliamentary maiden speech in 2008 Ardern affirmed her support for the welfare state as "a necessary safety net, and a support for those who are unable to support themselves", and has spoken in support of trade unions.[3] In 2017 she opposed the National Party's plans for income tax cuts for high-income earners.[64]

Ardern voted in favour of the 2013 Marriage Equality Bill, a bill which allowed same-sex couples to legally marry in New Zealand[65] and in 2004, she paid $20 to have her name included in a "full page ad in a major New Zealand newspaper supporting the Civil Union Bill."[66]

Ardern supports the liberalisation of abortion laws and advocates removing abortion from the Crimes Act of 1961.[67] Ardern supports student loans being kept interest-free[68] and has also expressed interest in the area of mental health.[69] Ardern also took strong objection to the idea that women should have to tell their employer about their plans to take maternity leave in the future.[70]

. . . .

In August 2017 Ardern advocated a lower rate of immigration to New Zealand, suggesting a drop of around 20,000–30,000. Calling it an "infrastructure issue", she has argued "there hasn't been enough planning about population growth, we haven't necessarily targeted our skill shortages properly...".[72] However, she wants to increase the intake of refugees.[73]

Ardern acknowledges global warming.[3] She has called for carbon emission reduction targets to be enshrined in New Zealand law.[74]

(I license this post under CC-by-SA to comply with Wikipedia copyright.)

The bio also says that she was raised in the LDS Church, but left it years ago and is now an agnostic.

[Doreen]

5. Thank you for the information.

She sounds like a good person. I am glad New Zealand has her. The world needs as many people like her right now.