Officials from the conservative National Party will officially put him in his new role on Monday after his rivals, health minister Jonathan Coleman and corrections minister Judith Collins, conceded defeat and gave him their backing. Mr English has been Mr Key’s trusted deputy over the past eight years and is well respected for his role as finance minister, although some critics say he is not charismatic enough for the top job.The 54-year-old was elected to parliament in 1990. He previously led the party but resigned after seeing it dramatically defeated in the 2002 election.
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John Key said he wanted to leave while still at the top
Mr English said he had learned from the experience.He said: “I was 39 years old then, with six children under 13. So if nothing else, I’ve got the opportunity to focus much more on the job now.”
The recently departed and very popular John Key was widely expected to contest a fourth straight election next year.He explained his shock resignation on Monday by saying he wanted to leave at the top and so that he could spend more time with his wife and two children. He has already declared his backing for Mr English. As prime minister, Mr English will choose the date of next year’s election, which most people had expected to be held in September.Since the PM’s resignation, some politicians have called for an earlier vote. Mr English described events as happening “pretty fast” over the past few days and said he would wait until officially in position before outlining his plans, saying: “I won’t be talking about being a prime minister until I am one.” New Zealand has enjoyed an annual growth of more than 3% and an unemployment rate below 5% during his time as finance minister.