Arabic version: لوكسمون ينجو من تحدٍ داخل الكتلة البرلمانية قبل انتخابات نيوزيلندا

According to SBS News, New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon has survived a caucus confidence vote after a leadership challenge, keeping control of the National Party three months before the 7 November general election.

Luxon called National’s partyroom together on Wednesday morning following reports of growing dissatisfaction with his performance. After the meeting, he said he had the full support of caucus and pledged to pursue a second term for his conservative coalition. His office later said Defence Minister Chris Penk had challenged him for the leadership.

Penk was sacked after the challenge and said he intended to leave politics at the November election. It was Luxon’s second caucus confidence vote this year, following another successful vote in April. The margins of both votes have not been disclosed.

The challenge followed a series of gaffes and pressure over Luxon’s government record. He has faced criticism over comments to small business owners in Rotorua, his use of a defence force plane after a party fundraiser, and his response to remarks by Foreign Minister Winston Peters directed at a China-born Greens MP.

Luxon entered parliament in 2020, became opposition leader in 2021 and led National to victory in 2023. National’s polling has fallen from 38 per cent at the election to an average of 29 per cent, although the National-led coalition remains narrowly ahead of the left bloc in polling. Newcomer party Opportunity reached eight per cent support in a TVNZ poll released Wednesday.