New Zealand PM survives second leadership challenge ahead of election

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon retained his position following a vote of confidence ahead of a general election in November. During a lengthy meeting with his National Party caucus on Wednesday, Luxon declared his complete backing from the party, stating, "I have the full support of our caucus... Our caucus is united, and it is determined to win this election."

This marks the second leadership challenge in four months for Luxon, who faces weak support amid sluggish economic growth and several of his own missteps.

In a previous controversy, Luxon sparked backlash for suggesting a potential referendum on New Zealand's electoral system on live radio, without first consulting his party colleagues. Earlier this month, he also irritated New Zealand's business community with a speech urging small business owners to be more adult-like in their relationship with the central government, often relying on government handouts. Luxon later apologized for his comments, acknowledging that many businesses were facing challenging circumstances.

As the former head of Air New Zealand, Luxon led his center-right party to victory in the 2023 elections, promising to reduce living costs and lower taxes. However, his party has struggled in recent opinion polls due to the economy's stagnation, with unemployment reaching an 11-year high of 5.6%. A recent 1News Verian poll revealed Luxon's popularity rating dropped to a new low of 17%, though he still leads among all candidates in the poll. New Zealand is set to hold its next general election on November 7th.