PM Jacinda Ardern Postponed New Zealand’s Election Due To Coronavirus

Wellington: Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern postponed the country’s general election on Monday by a month to Oct. 17 as the city of Auckland remains in lockdown due to a new outbreak of the coronavirus.

Ardern was under pressure from political opponents and her coalition partners to shift the original September 19 vote after COVID-19 was detected in Auckland last week, sending the country’s largest city into lockdown.

New Zealand's Ardern postpones election as coronavirus flares up https://t.co/NGHePoDJyI pic.twitter.com/40mUP5iBG4

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 17, 2020

She said the return of the virus after 102 days without community transmission had rattled Kiwis and could have discouraged some from casting their ballots in a September election. The centre-left leader, who is riding high in opinion polls, also acknowledged concerns from rivals that curbs on campaigning would unfairly weigh the election in favour of her government.

Ardern said the change meant all parties would be campaigning under the same conditions and she would not move the date until situation do not get normal.