Prime Minister-elect Christopher Luxon speaks to supporters during the National Party reception in Auckland, New Zealand, following its election victory on Saturday. Photo by Dom Thomas/EPA-EFE.
Oct. 14 (UPI) — In a stunning turn of events, New Zealand’s conservative National Party emerged victorious over the ruling Labor Party in the recently held elections, setting the stage for Christopher Luxon to take over as the new prime minister, succeeding Chris Hipkins.
Hipkins gracefully accepted defeat as the results showed the National Party making historic gains, even in regions known for favoring the Labor Party.
With 99% of the vote counted, the National Party secured 39% of the vote, while Labor only managed 27%, a significant drop from their 50% in the previous election. The Green Party and the small-government, libertarian ACT Party garnered 11% and 9% respectively.
The National Party will form a governing coalition with the ACT Party, securing a total of 61 seats, the minimum requirement for a governing majority in New Zealand.
“The result tonight is not what any of us desired. However, I want you all to be proud of our achievements over the past six years. Despite facing some of the greatest challenges our nation has ever encountered, we have continued to propel New Zealand forward,” Hipkins stated in his concession speech.
“I know you all gave it your best and you deserved a better outcome,” he added.
In his speech on Saturday, Luxon, the victorious candidate, expressed his gratitude to his supporters, saying, “Thank you so much, New Zealand. You have embraced hope and voted for change.”
“I am immensely proud to announce that based on the current numbers, National will be leading the next government,” he declared.
A former CEO of carrier NZ Air, Luxon campaigned on promises of tax reduction and crime prevention, capitalizing on voter dissatisfaction with the Labor Party, which suffered a decline in popularity after former prime minister Jacinda Ardern unexpectedly stepped down in January.
Ardern’s resignation came amidst growing weariness among New Zealanders due to COVID-19 restrictions and concerns about inflation, according to an analysis by Australian broadcaster ABC.
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