![New Zealand PM John Key Resigns Unexpectedly](https://www.srjnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/New-Zealand-PM-John-Key-Resigns-Unexpectedly.jpg)
New Zealand Prime Minister John Key surprisingly announced his resignation Monday (local time) in a breaking voice citing personal reasons. He has led the country for about eight years.
The country will go for poll next year and Key was expected to contest his fourth one.
The PM said ensuring he has not made the mistake unlike other world leaders and wanted to leave the office while being on top of his game.
Adding his National Party caucus to be meeting on December 12 to talk on the next potential leader the PM said for the sake of job he had even made personal sacrifices.
Following the news of his resignation the New Zealand dollar fell by about 1 percent and traded at $0.71 US.
Key talked about backing his deputy Bill English for the next PM.
Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull messaged Key as, “Say it ain’t so, bro.”
Talking to reporters Turnbull said Key is one of the most outstanding national leaders in the world and has done extraordinary job in his country.
New Zealand’s opposition leader Andrew Little said, “He is entitled to be recognized for what he has done for New Zealand… He’s been there through some pretty difficult times.”
Prior to becoming a politician Key was a currency trader. In 2002 he was elected to the parliament and in 2006 became the leader of his center-right opposition party. In 2008 he won his first general election. In 2011 and 2014 too he won the elections.
It was believed his party would win the next election too under his leadership.