Luxon Calls Urgent Meeting Amid Leadership Speculation
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has called an urgent meeting of National Party lawmakers to address leadership speculation ahead of the November general election.
The move comes after a series of public missteps by Luxon, including his suggestion that a referendum on New Zealand's electoral system could be held without party discussion, and comments about businesses needing to 'be adult' rather than rely on government support.
Luxon has been prime minister since late 2023, leading a coalition government with New Zealand First and ACT. However, his leadership has returned to the spotlight as National's support has weakened due to economic struggles, including 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 take place on August 12, with some lawmakers calling for a leadership change. Chris Bishop and Erica Stanford have been named as possible successors to Luxon, who survived a leadership confidence vote in April but has seen his popularity wane in opinion polls.