Christopher Luxon survives New Zealand leadership challenge

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said Wednesday that he had the full support of his ruling National Party after surviving a leadership challenge less than three months before a general election.

“There was a confidence vote in my leadership this morning at our caucus meeting, and I have the full support of our caucus,” Luxon told journalists after hours of closed-door talks. “Our caucus is united, and it is determined to win this election.”

Luxon called the emergency meeting on Tuesday after media reported growing speculation that his leadership was no longer tenable. New Zealanders are due to vote on November 7.

Wednesday’s vote was the second challenge to Luxon’s leadership this year. He also survived a confidence vote in April after reports that National Party members were unhappy with polling below 30 percent.

Luxon has led New Zealand since 2023, when he guided the centre-right National Party to election victory. He formed a three-way coalition with New Zealand First and ACT after more than six weeks of talks.

AFP reported that Luxon has struggled to manage the coalition and has faced concern over political missteps and recent controversies, including his handling of comments by Foreign Minister Winston Peters and his call for a referendum on New Zealand’s mixed-member proportional electoral system.