New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will step down as leader on Feb. 7 and the country will hold an election on Oct. 14, she abruptly announced on Thursday.
Why it matters: Ardern rose to global prominence for her response to the country's worst mass shooting, the 2019 terrorist attack on two Christchurch mosques, after which she led Parliament in passing sweeping gun control measures. She was praised for her leadership during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.