Luxon Calls Emergency Meeting Amid Leadership Speculation

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has called an urgent in-person meeting of National Party lawmakers for Wednesday, amid growing speculation about his leadership.

The meeting comes just under three months before a general election on November 7, and after a series of public missteps by Luxon that have weakened the party's support.

Luxon has been prime minister since late 2023, when his National Party formed a coalition government with New Zealand First and ACT. However, unemployment rose to 5.6% in the June quarter, its highest level in nearly 11 years, while annual inflation was 4.1%, above the Reserve Bank of New Zealand's target range of 1% to 3%.

The party has not disclosed the result of a leadership confidence vote held behind closed doors in April, but opinion polls show National narrowly trailing the centre-left Labour Party. Luxon would also cease to be prime minister if he were replaced as leader, which has not happened since 1997.