New Zealand’s prime minister Jacinda Ardern has said the country will postpone its general election, scheduled for September 19, by a month. The announcement comes as the country is facing a fresh coronavirus outbreak.
“Ultimately, the 17th of October provides sufficient time for parties to plan around the range of circumstances we will be campaigning under”, Ardern said.
The country has recorded 13 new cases on Sunday. Earlier, it had declared a triumph over the pandemic, after being coronavirus-free for 102 days. The capital Melbourne remains under lockdown.
The main opposition National Party also wanted a delay, after they were forced to cancel campaign events due to coronavirus-related restrictions on movement and crowds.
Ardern added, however, that she would not consider delaying the election again: “I have absolutely no intention at all to change from this point”, she said.
