NEW ZEALAND PM WINS CONFIDENCE VOTE-Several months before general elections
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today said he had won a confidence vote of ruling party lawmakers, after he called a meeting to address increased speculation about his leadership months away from a general election.
Luxon, who also survived a confidence vote in April, has seen support for his National Party remain weak in opinion polls due to sluggish economic growth, and his personal popularity has declined after a series of missteps.
National support has weakened as the economy struggles, with unemployment at an 11-year high and inflation above the central bank target of 1% to 3%. Most polls show National narrowly trailing Labour, though the November 7 election remains close.
A poll published on Wednesday showed Luxon’s preferred prime minister rating fell 1 percentage point to 17%, although he remained ahead of Labour Party leader Chris Hipkins, whose rating also fell 1 point to 15%.
