Wellington – Bill English will be the new prime minister of New Zealand. As expected, the conservative National Party caucus in Wellington elected the 54-year-old as party leader on Monday.
“I am both excited and humbled by this opportunity,” he said after the meeting.
“I’m also proud to have Paula Bennett as Deputy Leader. She’s a smart, accomplished and energetic woman and is National’s first ever female deputy leader.”
English and Bennett will be sworn into their new roles by the governor-general later in the day.
English’s predecssor John Key announced his surprise exit from politics last Monday, citing personal reasons. He has led the Pacific nation with 4.7 million inhabitants since 2008.
-dpa
