New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister Bill English looks almost certain to become the country’s new prime minister as he has gained the majority of support in the ruling party.
On Thursday, English garnered the majority support he needed from his 58 National Party colleagues in the parliament, effectively becoming the favored choice for prime minister.
Former premier John Key had abruptly resigned earlier in the week.
In New Zealand, the contender who has the highest support in the House of Representatives, typically the leader of the party that has the most seats in that chamber, is selected by the representative of the British monarch as the country’s prime minister. Key has said he would remain the head of the National Party even as he quits prime ministership, but has endorsed English as the country’s next PM.
“At least 30 MPs have committed to backing English, meaning he has half of the votes of National’s 59-vote caucus,” the daily New Zealand Herald reported.
Opinion polls conducted by Radio New Zealand and Fairfax Media also confirmed that English was the favorite for the top job.
The results of the polling of parliament members within the ruling party made the presumptive prime minister’s two challengers — Police Minister Judith Collins and Health Minister Jonathon Coleman — withdraw their nominations.
“As far as I’m concerned, he has won,” Collins said. “I would like to say to my supporters that we should get in behind him and support Bill as the leader.”
A special caucus meeting to vote on the new leadership and officially announce the winner is scheduled for Monday.
The popular Key took the country by surprise with the abrupt announcement of his resignation on Monday, citing family reasons. He had first been elected prime minister in 2008 and has been leading the center-right National Party since ten years ago.
English, who comes from a farming background, has been praised for his handling of the economy in his role as finance minister over the past eight years.
The 54-year-old is expected to retain Key’s legacy and to continue with most of his core policies, despite remarks by critics saying English lacks the charisma needed for the job.
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