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Jacinda Ardern has compared New Zealand’s “oasis of calm” to the “chaotic and difficult world” in her first remarks since Election Day in the United States.
Speaking in Auckland on Thursday, the prime minister fell short of condemning Donald Trump for prematurely claiming victory in Wednesday night’s election (AEDT).
However, he did make a clear reference to his hope that the count will continue as the president’s campaign makes legal proposals to challenge the count in the states where the outcome will be determined.
Ardern, who has previously lived in the United States, said he believed democracy would prevail.
“We have faith in the institutions of the United States,” he said.
“And of course the faith that those final votes will continue to be counted and that there will be a declared end result.
“This is another country’s democracy and now is the time to let it run its course.”
As with most US presidential elections, the outcome depends on the count in a small number of undecided states.
Based on projected vote counts, Trump appears set to lose the presidency to Democratic challenger Joe Biden.
Ardern said she was ready to work with either one, with New Zealand eager to advance free trade talks with the United States.
“My job in this role as Prime Minister is to work with whoever another country decides should be the leader in the same way that New Zealand expects all other countries to work with whoever. [we] elected as prime minister. “
The 40-year-old won her own re-election bid last month in New Zealand elections.
On Thursday, Ardern delivered his first major post-election speech, explaining his immediate governance priorities to Business NZ.
He began by addressing the US elections and said: “I am speaking to you at a time when New Zealand feels like an oasis of calm in a chaotic and difficult world.”
“I watched the American election results roll in and I couldn’t help but reflect on our own elections in recent years,” he said.
“More and more I have come to believe that we have to find ways to hold and express strong opinions, but without the partisanship that accompanies them and prevents us from working to build consensus where it really matters.”
