Conservative Lacson sworn in as New Zealand prime minister – DW – 11/27/2023

Conservative Christopher Luxon, a former airline chief executive, was sworn in as New Zealand’s prime minister on Monday (11/27/2023), pledging to rein in inflation and lower interest rates.

Six weeks later, Lacson comes to power His National Party’s electoral victoryIt ended the six-year rule of the Labor Party (centre-left) of Jacinda Ardern, who resigned in January.

“Fixing the economy is the first job. We need to lower the cost of living and get inflation under control, so we can lower interest rates and make food more affordable,” says Lacson, a wealthy teetotaler and country music enthusiast. He rose to fame when he ran the national airline.

Former Air New Zealand chief executive, 53, A coalition government was shut down on Friday Conservative formation ACT and New Zealand’s populists, he said, aimed to “restore law and order”.

The National Party has promised to crack down on organized crime, ban cell phones in schools and reject fuel interest hikes during the first hundred days of government.

gs (afp, Reuters)