That is Jacinda Ardern, PM of New Zealand, Labour Party.
She is a far-left politician in social policies though moving more centrist in economic policies as PM, a bit draconian in application of policy, actually quite strong in decision making. She chose public safety over economy during covid and moved very strongly after making that choice by closing the place up tight. New Zealand was one of a very few Western nations to have contained Covid.
Currently NZ is working out of the recession caused by those policies but I have to respect her making a firm decision, taking responsibility for that decision, sticking to it, and being adaptable in her overall political principles as immediate events require. I can respect that in a leader; its currently very rare.
I however find her extremely annoying when it comes to "showing empathy" on social subjects. She appears gratuitous in a convenient ability to shed tears for any occasion, to appropriate indigenous trappings when pushing aboriginal policies, that sort of behaviour. Let's just say it causes one to suspect more performance art than sincerity.
An honest appraisal, then. She is popular enough and successful enough to have been PM since 2017, and currently sits as a result of a landslide victory for Labour creating the first non-coalition majority government in thirty years in New Zealand. I have to respect her consistent yet flexible grasp of the tree even though I most certainly do not share the same branch. I wish I could say that of our "leaders". She evokes the strongest negative reaction for the political and social-agenda theatre, excessive, emotional, gratuitous, is it dishonest? It is at the least rather revolting.
Compared to the current field in this country, my respect for her as a head of government has gone up considerably. Make no mistake, though. I still can't stand the productions of the Ardern Empathy Theatre and I think many of the foreign policy decisions are dangerous.
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