Originally Posted by
jonu
Key left a succession plan in place. I think NZ missed an opportunity with Bill English, but sadly a combination of Winnie's feud and a form of rot that had set in the wider Nats Party put paid to that, and left us with an ineffectual opposition for 4 years.
As the dust settles many of Ardern's gushing supportive commentators in media and politics will look forever foolish as the huge mess she leaves behind becomes more evident.
What Ardern has done is abandon ship and left the Labour party in a position where it will likely implode due to the free reign she gave the Maori caucus. She also hamstrung her successor by announcing the election date before walking out the door. She has left a bunch of broken policies half done that have sunk her party even if they abandon those policies.
History will show her to be an example of leadership failure in most respects, and also highlight the danger of vacuous charisma politics.