English Facing Daunting Task Replacing a Popular Prime Minister
- Mild-mannered N.Z. finance minister thrust into the limelight
- ‘In parliament 26 years, but in a way we still don’t know him’
Bill English Becomes New Zealand Prime Minister
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Bill English needs to come out of his shell.
Since leading New Zealand’s National Party to its worst-ever election defeat 14 years ago, English has stayed out of the limelight, preferring the role of mild-mannered finance minister and behind-the-scenes policy architect. All that changed Monday, when the 54-year-old father of six became the nation’s 39th prime minister.