New Zealand’s main opposition party named a new leader two months before a general election following Tuesday’s surprise resignation of the previous party leader, who had been in the role just over 50 days.
The conservative National Party elected four-time member of parliament Judith Collins to take on Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s Labour Party in a September election that is expected to be dominated by coronavirus-related issues.
Collins, an admirer of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has a tough job on her hands as she will need to convince voters to go against Ardern.
Todd Muller, who became opposition leader in May, resigned citing health reasons and said he wanted to spend more time with his family.