New Zealand's Luxon faces lawmakers amid leadership speculation

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is facing increased pressure and speculation about his leadership, prompting him to call an urgent meeting with National Party lawmakers.

The call for the meeting comes as support for the National Party has remained weak in opinion polls. This decline is attributed to the country's sluggish economic growth, with unemployment reaching an 11-year high and inflation exceeding the central bank's target range of 1% to 3%. Most polls indicate the National Party is narrowly trailing the Labour Party, making the upcoming general election on November 7 a close contest.

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It is clear from various media reports and conversations there is increased speculation about my leadership.

Luxon's personal popularity has also waned following a series of public missteps. These include comments about a potential referendum on the electoral system made without consulting party colleagues, and advising a business audience to "be adult" rather than rely on government assistance. These incidents have intensified scrutiny on his leadership.

Media reports have begun to name potential successors should the party decide to replace Luxon. Among those mentioned are Attorney-General, Infrastructure, and Transport Minister Chris Bishop, and Education and Immigration Minister Erica Stanford. If Luxon were to be replaced, he would also lose his position as prime minister, a rare occurrence in New Zealand politics since 1997.

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Be adult.