New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she plans to step down. Ardern was 37 years old when she became the head of the government of the southern Pacific island nation and U.S. ally. The Labour Party politician will have served five and one half years when she officially leaves power. Many observers say she was an example of a new kind of leadership. However, more recently, Ardern has faced increasing political pressure to step down. The prime minister told reporters in Napier that her last day in office would be February 7. She said: “I know what this job takes, and I know that I no longer have enough in the tank to do it justice.” “It is that simple.” Labour Party lawmakers will vote for a new leader on Sunday. New elections are to take place on October 14. Ardern became prime minister in 2017.
