Graceful Falls and Falls from Grace: A Look at Jacinda Ardern’s Resignation Decision

Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor-General

There are so many shows that start out great. A solid season 1, and then it inevitably declines as the writers run out of ideas; by the time you reach season 6, you’ve tired of it. They just didn’t know when to stop. Often, unfortunately, the same can be said for politicians. A few days ago, Jacinda Ardern announced her resignation as Prime Minister of New Zealand. The announcement came as a shock and she implied burn-out as the main reason behind her departure, famously saying she no longer has ‘gas in the tank.’ However, seeing that her Labour party had already begun to fall behind in polls, it is also a smart decision on her part to leave while she’s still ahead. 

Few world leaders have built as favourable an image worldwide as Ardern. Her tenure was marked by many significant events, beginning with the Islamophobic terrorist attack in two Christchurch mosques not long after her election. Her response became a defining moment in her career. She wore a hijab as she sat with the families of victims and survivors—a strong image of solidarity—and then took immediate action in tightening the gun laws of the country. Less than a year later the world was hit by Covid-19, and New Zealand fared much better than most other nations. She became the perfect example of a leader who could mobilise public policy efficiently and effectively in the face of crisis. 

Her popularity was such that she won the 2020 elections with a majority—no small feat in a proportional representation system. She also became the second world leader to give birth while in office and took her daughter with her to a UN General Assembly meeting, once again garnering adoration from masses around the world. She was the face of soft power and her publicity is notable. In a world where politicians found themselves under constant scrutiny through the press, she kept making positive headlines unlike most of her peers. She managed to craft an international image of herself as a strong yet human leader.   

Recently, however, the tide in New Zealand has begun to turn, as an unhappy Kiwi population faces high inflation and a worsening housing crisis. As of December 2022, support for the Labour party was below 30% and with an election looming, it is unlikely that they would win another term. She understood that, and wasn’t greedy for power as we have seen is the case with many world leaders who overstay their welcome. Of course names like former American President Donald Trump and former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson come to mind, their terms in office marked by no-confidence and motions for impeachment. 

Even more recently, pro-Bolsonaro supporters in Brazil took a page out of Trump’s book and attempted an insurrection, which was ultimately unsuccessful. Going further back, Margaret Thatcher tried to hold on to her political power but after 11 years of clinging, she was ousted by her own party. Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister of India for 16 years over divided terms. Her time in the office started out as promising, but it ultimately devolved into unrest and violence, even involving the declaration of a state of emergency. Her premiership ended in an assassination. On the other hand, leaders like former U.S. President Barack Obama and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel calmly left office when their time was up and, despite their ups and downs, are remembered in a favourable way.

In light of this, Ardern’s decision is not shocking at all. She would rather rank with the second set of politicians than the first. While her popularity in New Zealand may have begun to wane, she remains on the global stage a strong political figure—a leader who led with a firm but compassionate hand. She stated that criticism did not make her leave, however, it makes perfect sense for her to resign while she still enjoys public favour. She gracefully bows out of the race while the sun is still shining, knowing that her place in public memory will be cemented forever as she crafted it—a strong, relatable and human leader until the very end.