By Anna Whyte and Mandy Te
National MPs have descended on the Capital to decide their party's leadership future, after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon called an urgent Caucus meeting amid leadership speculation.
Education Minister Erica Stanford is tipped as a potential contender.
The meeting begins at 9.30am, Wednesday morning. Being a recess week where Parliament doesn't sit, MPs were in their electorates around the country or at events this week, travelling to Wellington especially for the meeting.
Luxon called the meeting following speculation from media outlets including the NZ Herald, who on Monday evening reported that unhappy National MPs were making phone calls about a potential leadership change.
It also follows what was a challenging week for Luxon, who apologised for his remarks at a breakfast hosted by the Rotorua Business Chamber, was accused of inaction over Foreign Affairs Minister and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters’ racially charged comments to Green MP Lawrence Xu-Nan, and later suggested he would hold a referendum on MMP if re-elected.
Taking to social media on Tuesday, Luxon wrote: “It is clear from various media reports and conversations there is increased speculation about my leadership.”
“It is my firm belief that division and disunity are a major distraction only 90 days out from the election. I also believe this distraction is unfair to the New Zealand people, and dedicated National Party candidates, supporters and volunteers, when there is so much at stake.”
“For these reasons, this issue needs to be resolved quickly, and I am calling an urgent in-person Caucus meeting tomorrow [Wednesday] at 9:30am in Wellington to resolve the issue,” he wrote on X.
This isn’t the first time Luxon has been under pressure.
In April, Luxon moved a formal motion to confirm his leadership after reports of discontent in his caucus began to circulate and polls showed a sharp decline in public confidence. That motion was passed but reports from media say the voting wasn't unanimous, with some floating 27 - 22 and others suggesting 28 - 21 in favour of Luxon.
1 Comments
It is interesting that despite the many opportunities that PM Luxon has been providing them to go after him, the Labour party have been playing on soft pedal in response. It is highly unusual, particularly in the lead up to an election, for party leaders who lead with their chin to be left alone and it might well demonstrate that the opposition see his continuing as being a bonus to their own chances?
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