New Zealand opposition leader quits 2 months from election

  leer of New Zealand’s opposition National Party, Todd Muller, has quit, citing health reasons just over two months from a general election and 53 days after taking charge in a leership coup amid party’s stagnant poll numbers.

In a statement released at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, which reportedly shocked lawmakers in right-of-center party, 67-year-old Muller said he was stepping down “effective immediately.”

Lawmakers were meeting by teleconference to decide how to proceed, with few clear candidates to assume leership.

“It has become clear to me that I am t best person to be leer of Opposition and Leer of New Zealand National Party at this critical time for New Zealand,” Muller said. “It is more important than ever that New Zealand National Party has a leer who is comfortable in role.

“ role has taken a heavy toll on me personally, and on my family, and this has become untenable from a health perspective.”

National Party has been embroiled for past week in a scandal after it was revealed a junior lawmaker leaked private health details of New Zealand COVID-19 patients to news media. information was provided by a former party president who received it confidentially in her capacity as acting chief executive of Auckland rescue helicopter organization.

Muller has been widely criticized for his handling of scandal and veracity of some of his statements h been challenged. He was facing questions over when he knew source of leak and if he knew one of his most senior MPs h also received information.

private information was sent to three media organizations but was t published.

Muller was a low-profile member of party when he was chosen to le coup that toppled former leer Simon Bridges, whose lack of popularity with voters h begun to worry MPs as election approached.

National has struggled to dent popularity of New Zealand's charismatic prime minister Jacinda Ardern, whose government has high approval ratings for its handling of coronavirus pandemic. New Zealand has gone 73 days without a case of community transmission and has suffered only 22 deaths.

Life has returned to rmal with schools, bars and restaurants all open and with packed stiums at sports events.

National looked to Muller’s strong business credentials and his links to farming community to solidify party’s base. But his perceived lack of charisma, especially in comparison to Ardern, failed to lift its polling numbers.