Christopher Luxon, the former businessman who entered politics just three years ago, is poised to become the new prime minister of New Zealand, leading the country towards the right and ending six years of a Labour-led center-left government.
Luxon, the former CEO of Air New Zealand, took over leadership of the center-right National Party in late 2021, contributing to its growing popularity and ultimately winning the general election held on Saturday.
According to the provisional results from the Electoral Commission, the National Party won 50 seats, while its preferred coalition partner, ACT New Zealand, secured 11 seats, giving them a slim majority in the 121-seat parliament. The final results will be announced on November 3.
Prior to his political career, Luxon held important positions at Unilever, a global consumer goods company, and successfully managed Air New Zealand from 2012 to 2019, delivering consistent profits. Luxon has expressed his intention to utilize his business management skills to benefit New Zealand.
As the 53-year-old prepares to take office, he has outlined his plans to address historically high inflation and reduce government debt by implementing spending cuts and narrowing the central bank’s focus to targeting inflation. These measures aim to assist middle-income families facing financial challenges.
“I want to unite the country and ensure that our focus is on delivering positive outcomes for all New Zealanders,” Luxon stated during a press conference while wearing an All Blacks jersey after witnessing the national rugby team’s thrilling victory in the World Cup quarter-final.
In a country where nearly half the population identifies as non-religious, Luxon has faced scrutiny due to his Christian faith and has had to defend his personal opposition to abortion. However, he has reassured the public that he supports the current legal status of abortion and also advocates for same-sex marriage.
“Faith is deeply personal, but my duty is not to act in the interests of any specific faith, group, individual, or belief system. I am here to represent all New Zealanders,” Luxon told Reuters earlier this year.
Luxon, a wealthy father of two with multiple properties throughout the country, is actively learning the Maori language and is a fan of Taylor Swift, often quoting her in televised debates and interviews.
While he has traveled extensively, Luxon has minimal experience in foreign policy. He has expressed strong support for Ukraine during its conflict with Russia, in alignment with New Zealand’s traditional allies, and has indicated that there will be little change in the country’s foreign policy under his leadership.
(Reporting by Lucy Craymer; Editing by William Mallard)
