Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party wins ‘historic’ re-election

The Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern has won a landslide victory and secured a second term as leader in the country’s general election attracting so many votes that it could become the first party in decades to be able to govern alone.

As the total votes tallied, Ms Ardern’s centre-left Labour Party won 49.1%, securing a projected 64 seats and a rare outright parliamentary majority.

The opposition National Party won 35 seats in the 120-seat assembly securing 26.8% in Saturday’s poll.

The general elections in New Zealand was due to held in September but was postponed after the Covid-19 pandemic.

In an early polling, more than a million people cast their votes, which opened on 3 October.

The citizens of New Zealand were also asked to vote in two referendums alongside the general election.

Ms Ardern, 40, told her supporters after the victory: “New Zealand has shown the Labour Party its greatest support in almost 50 years. We will not take your support for granted. And I can promise you we will be a party that governs for every New Zealander.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has congratulated New Zealand’s Prime Minister on her “impressive victory”.

The Pakistani Premier Imran Khan took to Twitter congratulating his New Zealand counterpart from his official handle on Saturday.

“Warmest congratulations to @jacindaarden on her impressive victory in #NZelections2020”.

Warmest congratulations to @jacindaardern on her impressive victory in #NZelections2020. Her compassionate style of leadership has won hearts not just in NZ but in Pakistan too. Looking forward to expanding cooperation and further strengthening bonds of friendship between 🇵🇰&🇳🇿

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 17, 2020