New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has survived his second leadership challenge in just four months, barely holding onto his position as his party faces a difficult path to the November 7 general election.
After three hours of closed-door deliberations, Luxon emerged to claim he has the 'full support' of his caucus, though the necessity of the emergency meeting highlights deep-seated instability within his ranks. The internal unrest comes as the nation grapples with a stagnant economy and a staggering 5.6% unemployment rate, which has hit an 11-year high.
Luxon’s political standing has been further eroded by a series of self-inflicted wounds, including a poorly received suggestion of an electoral referendum and a condescending speech where he accused small business owners of possessing a 'parent-child mentality' toward the government.
While he later issued an apology for his remarks, the damage to his reputation among the business community is evident. Despite leading his center-right party to victory in 2023 on promises of tax relief and economic growth, his preferred prime minister rating has cratered to a record low of 17%.
With the election looming, Luxon and his party are struggling to reverse the perception that they have failed to deliver on their core promises to the New Zealand people.
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