New Zealand’s popular leader bows out
The country has been a haven of prosperity and stability under a remarkably successful prime minister
THE shock announcement by New Zealand’s prime minister, John Key, that he will step down on December 12th has caught the country on the hop. First elected in 2008, he remained popular and was widely expected to win a rare fourth term in office in a general election next year.
The 55-year-old Mr Key, who said he was standing down for the sake of his family, announced that he will back Bill English, the deputy prime minister and finance minister, when the MPs from his centre-right National Party pick a new leader next week. The opinion polls all say that Mr Key and his government are popular, with a wide lead over the opposition Labour Party.
This article appeared in the Asia section of the print edition under the headline "Lost Key"
Asia December 10th 2016
From the December 10th 2016 edition
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