Luxon Calls Emergency Meeting Amid Leadership Speculation

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has called an urgent meeting of National Party lawmakers to address speculation about his leadership, just three months before a general election.

Luxon said in a post on X that media reports and conversations have increased speculation about his leadership, prompting the meeting for Wednesday at 9:30 am in Wellington.

The meeting comes after Luxon's leadership was criticized following a series of public missteps, including saying he was open to a referendum on the country's electoral system without discussing it with party colleagues and apologizing for telling businesses to 'be adult' rather than look to the government for help.

Luxon has been prime minister since late 2023, when his National Party formed a coalition government with New Zealand First and ACT after the election that year. However, National's support has weakened as the economic recovery has struggled to gain momentum, with unemployment rising to 5.6% in the June quarter and annual inflation at 4.1%, above the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's target range.

The meeting will discuss the possibility of a leadership change, which would also mean Luxon ceasing to be prime minister. A governing party has not replaced a sitting New Zealand prime minister between elections since 1997.