New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has weathered a vote of confidence from his National Party caucus, asserting he has their complete backing as the country approaches a general election scheduled for November 7.
Luxon convened an urgent meeting with his caucus on Wednesday to address what he described as "increased speculation about [his] leadership." Following the more than three-hour meeting, he declared, "I have the full support of our caucus... Our caucus is united, and it is determined to win this election."
This marks the second challenge to Luxon's leadership within a four-month span. His party's support has reportedly weakened amidst a sluggish economy and a series of public missteps by the prime minister. Last week, Luxon faced criticism for suggesting a potential referendum on the country's electoral system on live radio without consulting party colleagues first. Earlier in the month, he drew backlash from the business community after urging small business owners to "be adult," stating that New Zealand businesses exhibited a "parent-child mentality" with the government and too frequently relied on financial assistance. Luxon later issued an apology, acknowledging that many businesses were experiencing difficult times.
The former Air New Zealand chief executive led the center-right National Party to victory in the 2023 elections, pledging to reduce the cost of living and lower taxes. However, opinion polls have shown a decline in his party's standing in recent months, coinciding with rising unemployment, which has reached a 5.6% rate, the highest in 11 years. A 1News Verian poll released Wednesday morning indicated Luxon's rating as preferred prime minister had fallen to a new low of 17% for his term, though he still leads other candidates included in the survey.