Venkat Raman
Auckland, June 16, 2020
Labour Party Leader Jacinda Ardern has created a record with a high rating of about 63% as the preferred Prime Minister and for a young woman and a mother, she has shown remarkable leadership qualities, with a humane touch. Her supporters and admirers say that she comes across as a genuine leader, firm in her approach and belief.
Energetic Leader
Her handling of the Christchurch massacre that shook the Nation on March 15, 2019 and Covid-19 this year, has won her international acclaim, placing her among the Most Popular leaders in the world. The public approval of her ‘Go Early, Go Hard’ approach to the pandemic has been pronounced and there is little doubt that her Party is energetic.
Ms Ardern has some very able lieutenants who have stood by her throughout the current health crisis, which has also plunged the economy into despair.
Able Lieutenant
Chief among them has been Finance Minister Grant Robertson, whose innovative spirit and ability to rise to the occasion quickly have seen many cash and material incentives to almost all sectors of the New Zealand economy.
But elections are not won on ‘feel good’ factors alone.
People vote for policies and programmes, not just for personalities.
On that score, the country can expect more from Ms Ardern and her Party.
National looks for fortunes
The National Party is yet to announce its List ranking for Election 2020 which may not be the same as Mr Muller’s List announced soon after his election as Party Leader on May 22, 2020.
He said that New Zealand is facing the toughest time that almost anyone alive can remember.
“We are borrowing tens of billions of dollars to get us through this crisis. There is only one team that can spend it competently and well, and that is my National Party team,” he said.
But most governments borrow during times of crises, including that of John Key, during whose tenure, government debt rose to $70 billion.
Voters look forward not only National’s List but also Muller’s policies.
