To form a government, the National Party must rely on a coalition with the right-wing liberal ACT and the populist anti-immigration party New Zealand First. After tough negotiations, they reached an agreement just last week.
For the first half of the three-year legislature, New Zealand First party leader Winston Peters is deputy prime minister. The post will then go to ACT president David Seymour. As minister, Peters will be given the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Jacinda Ardern’s Social Democratic Labor Party has been in power in New Zealand for the past six years. He surprisingly resigned in January and was replaced by Chris Hipkins.
Luxon is a successful businessman who has long worked at consumer goods group Unilever and was CEO of New Zealand airline Air New Zealand. The 53-year-old has only been in Parliament since 2020.
“It’s an honor and a huge responsibility,” Lacson told reporters after being sworn in. “The most important task is to restore the economy. We need to reduce the cost of living, control inflation, reduce interest rates and make food affordable.
“Introvert. Communicator. Tv fanatic. Typical coffee advocate. Proud music maven. Infuriatingly humble student.”
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