Dem
51
GOP
49
By all indications, Jacinda Ardern is the best prime minister that New Zealand has had in many moons. But, as is the case in so many countries these days, politics in Kiwi-land have become very divisive, and she is subject to a constant barrage of insults and threats. Further, the PM has given her all while also raising a young child. And so, after 6 years in office, she's decided she doesn't have it in her to continue. Not only will she not stand for reelection in this October's plebiscite, she is going to resign in short order, no later than February 7.
New Zealand is an important ally to the United States, particularly when it comes to intelligence-gathering. Under the terms of the UKUSA Agreement, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the U.K., and the U.S. collect and share signals intelligence. In other words, they monitor the world's airwaves in search of messages by the bad guys. Some of the stuff the UKUSA alliance comes up with is pretty juicy; perhaps even good enough to be pilfered and then squirreled away at Mar-a-Lago.
Although Ardern and Joe Biden reportedly get along well, her departure is not too likely to affect the U.S.-New Zealand relationship too much, especially since she's going to be replaced by a (yet-to-be-determined) member of the same party (Labour). We pass along the news primarily because it's a reminder that politics, particularly in the 21st century, is an absolutely brutal business. That's true worldwide, even for those who play the game well. (Z)