Luxon survives second leadership vote, sacks Penk as election looms
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon survived a confidence vote in the National caucus this week after Defence Minister Chris Penk challenged him, then stripped Penk of his portfolios — with Penk announcing he'll quit Parliament altogether. It's the second leadership test in four months for a struggling PM less than three months out from the November 7 election, and coalition partners are openly deriding the chaos. Listen for what the fallout means for National's stability and campaign heading into the vote.
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Christopher Luxon survived his second leadership confidence vote in just four months.
Chris Penk was stripped of all ministerial portfolios for breaching collective responsibility.
National Party polling has dropped to twenty-eight point four percent, threatening their government-in-waiting status.
The opposition bloc reached fifty percent support in April as Luxon's personal ratings trail Chris Hipkins.
Chris Penk is quitting Parliament entirely, leaving a candidate vacancy in Kaipara ki Mahurangi.
Internal leadership instability contradicts the National Party's brand of corporate-style management.
- 01Intro1 min
- 02The Wellington Showdown1 min
- 03The Penk Resignation and Seat Vacuum2 min
- 04The Numbers Problem2 min
- 05A Fragile Coalition and the Path to November3 min
- 06Outro1 min
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