3-way fight for NZ premiership
WELLINGTON: The race to replace Prime Minister John Key, who stunned the nation by resigning on Monday, got a little crowded yesterday with three conservative lawmakers saying they want the top job.
The contenders are Deputy Prime Minister Bill English, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman and Corrections Minister Judith Collins. Other National Party lawmakers also said they might enter the race.
In New Zealand, the prime minister is chosen by the governing party’s top lawmakers, who make up the caucus. The caucus is expected to take a vote at a meeting on Dec 12. The new prime minister will have about 10 months to run the country before a general election next year.
Key had been a popular leader for eight years and was widely expected to contest a fourth straight election next year before his shock resignation.
Key has endorsed English, who is also the finance minister. English, 54, led the National Party 15 years ago for two years. He suffered a big defeat in the 2002 election, which (From left) New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Corrections Minister Agencies pix
was won by the rival Labour Party led by Helen Clark.
Supporters said English had managed the economy exceptionally well under Key and would make for a steady hand as leader. Critics said he lacked the charisma needed for the top job.
Coleman, 50, is known for being ambitious, but his decision to run still came as a surprise to many. He said he had attributes that go beyond his time in Parliament running
Health Minister the difficult health portfolio.
Collins, 57, is known as tough, plain-spoken and something of a maverick. In 2014, when she was the justice minister, she was forced to resign her portfolio three weeks before the general election due to her ties with a controversial blogger.
She remained as a member of parliament. About a year ago, she returned to the inner circle of the cabinet, taking on the police and corrections portfolios. AP A file picture showing Bana al-Abed holding a placard in Aleppo, Syria. The 7-yearold Syrian girl, whose Twitter account gained international attention due to her heartrending tweets in English on life in the besieged city, has fled her home amid heavy fighting, but she and her family are safe, her father said yesterday. AFP pic
SAFE