World stories

New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern apologises for swearing at rival in parliament

[ad_1]

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern participates in a televised debate with National leader Judith Collins at TVNZ in Auckland, New Zealand, September 22, 2020.—Reuters
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern participates in a televised debate with National leader Judith Collins at TVNZ in Auckland, New Zealand, September 22, 2020.—Reuters
  • NZ Premier called an opponent an “arrogant prick” in parliament.
  • Jacinda faced a drop in public support after incident.
  • Ardern has enjoyed high approval ratings for most of her two-terms.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand´s Jacinda Ardern apologised for calling a political rival an “arrogant prick” in parliament on Tuesday, as the prime minister faces a drop in public support.

In the throes of spirited parliamentary debate, Ardern took issue when the leader of an opposition party asked her to give an example of an occasion when she had made a mistake, apologised and fixed it.

Advertisements

The prime minister gave an impassioned, detailed response, then as she sat down muttered “such an arrogant prick” which was picked up by the microphones in parliament.

David Seymour, leader of New Zealand’s ACT party, objected to the remark lobbed in his direction and petitioned the speaker of the House of Representatives to have it withdrawn.

Ardern’s office later said she had apologised.

The 42-year-old has been prime minister for five years, and has won favour worldwide for her management of crises and down-to-earth approach to politics.

Advertisements

She was one of the first prime ministers to become a mum while in office and has enjoyed sky-high approval ratings for most of her two-term tenure.

But with New Zealand expected to go to the polls in late 2023 and the cost of living skyrocketing, she is under increasing political pressure.

Support for her Labour party appears to be waning with the latest opinion polls showing them trailing the opposition party National by five percentage points

Read Now  EU demands probe into Palestinian deaths - SUCH TV

Ardern, Marin ‘womansplain’ journailst  

Earleir on Dec 1, the NZ and Finland PM hit back at a journalist’s suggestion that they arranged a meeting because they are “similar in age”.

Advertisements

New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern and Finland’s Sanna Marin, at a press conference in Auckland, said that they met because they are prime ministers and not because of their genders.

“A lot of people will be wondering are you two meeting just because you are similar in age and got a lot of stuff common there,” asked the journalist.

PM Ardern questioned whether the male politicians face the same question, interjecting the journalist.

“My first question is, I wonder whether or not anyone ever asked Barack Obama and John Key if they met because they were of similar age?” asked PM Ardern.

She said that politics have a higher proportion of men. “Because two women meet is not simply because of their gender,” she added.

[ad_2]

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Leave a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles

World stories

South Sudan police say 5 killed in confrontation near bank

[ad_1] JUBA, South Sudan — Police say at least five people were...

World stories

US announces return of Iraqi artifacts taken from museum during 2003 invasion

[ad_1] Hunting down ISIS in Iraq Fighters from Ansar-al-Marjiiya Brigade, a Public...

World stories

Tennessee men, including suspected Jan. 6 rioter, charged with plotting attack on FBI Knoxville office

[ad_1] A suspected Capitol rioter facing charges for his alleged role in...

World stories

Joe Kennedy III expected to be named as special envoy to Northern Ireland | CNN Politics

[ad_1] CNN  —  President Joe Biden is expected to name former congressman...