Who among the following has been named as the Prime Minister of New Zealand in January, 2023?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — D, Chris Hipkins. After Jacinda Ardern's surprise resignation announcement on 19 January 2023, Hipkins was the only nominee for the Labour Party leadership and was confirmed unopposed on 22 January 2023. He was sworn in as New Zealand's 41st Prime Minister on 25 January 2023 by Governor-General Dame Cindy Kiro. A senior Labour minister who had earlier led the country's COVID-19 response, he took office without a general election and served until the October 2023 election.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Ardern was the outgoing Prime Minister (2017-2023) who announced her resignation on 19 January 2023 — the person Hipkins replaced, not the newly named PM.  (b) Dame Cindy Kiro is the Governor-General of New Zealand — the ceremonial head of state who administered the oath to Hipkins — not the Prime Minister.  (c) Sepuloni became Deputy Prime Minister under Hipkins (the first person of Pacific descent in that post), not the Prime Minister.

Concept: In a Westminster parliamentary system the Prime Minister is the leader of the party that commands a majority in Parliament, so a mid-term change of party leader changes the PM without any general election. When Ardern stepped down, the Labour caucus chose Hipkins, who thereby became head of government.

State PCS 2023 Q76 — Current Affairs PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q76 — Current Affairs PYQ with Answer