Jacinda Ardern has fired a senior cabinet minister over a matter with a staff member.
Wellington, New Zealand:
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Wednesday sacked a senior cabinet minister over a deal with a former staff member, amid a deep scrutiny of lawmakers’ behavior ahead of the September general election.
Ardern fired Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway after discovering he was having an affair with a former colleague who worked at a government organization reporting to him.
The center-left leader said Lees-Galloway’s role as labor relations minister, who regulates employment conduct, made his position untenable.
“The minister has shown lack of judgment over a 12-month period – by entering into this relationship he has exposed himself to accusations of misuse of his office,” she told reporters.
Ardern said she was not passing a moral judgment on Lees-Galloway, but added: “He has not shaped the behavior I expect as a minister charged with setting a standard and a culture on the premises. working “.
Lees-Galloway, who is married with three children, released a brief statement admitting he had acted “totally inappropriately” and apologizing for letting his family down.
Details of her case were passed to Ardern’s office on Tuesday by Opposition Leader Judith Collins, who had urged the public to contact her with allegations of inappropriate parliamentary behavior.
Collins’ call came after one of his center-right National Party colleagues, Andrew Falloon, quit this week following a series of unwanted “sexting” messages sent to young women.
Collins became Leader of the Opposition last week by promising to “lead the fight” to Ardern in the September 19 election.
Ardern’s Labor Party maintains a strong lead over National in opinion polls and Lees-Galloway’s sacking is unlikely to reduce his chances of securing a second term.
However, the ability of the new opposition leader, dubbed “Crusher Collins” to pick up a prized Cabinet scalp, indicates that the competition will be fiercely fought.
