The Reluctant Politician

Heavy is the head that wears the of any gender co-crown.

Some people seek greatness. Others have greatness thrust upon them. The Roman statesman Cincinnatus is the great and antique example of the reluctant leader.

A former consul, Cincinnatus retired to his small farm after a bitter political defeat. All he wanted to do was see out his days in peace. But when the Republic was threatened by neighbouring Italian tribes, he was proclaimed dictator and a delegation sent to fetch him from his plough.

Cincinnatus had to be dragged from his plough to lead the Roman Republic after a neighbouring Italian army destroyed two consular armies. After crushing Rome’s enemies, he disbanded his armies and returned to his farm willingly. The entire duration of his dictatorship lasted little more than a fortnight.

I suppose if you had to choose a New Zealand equivalent you would have to go with Chlöe Swarbrick. The newly minted Green Party co-leader has been at great pains to insist upon her reluctance to hold office. But while she has no ambitions for personal political glory, destiny seems to continue to thrust her reluctantly into the spotlight.

Swarbrick was born in the year of Our Lord, one thousand, nine hundred and ninety-four. She completed university studies in 2016. It was that same year, with great reluctance, that a political career was essentially forced upon her as made a high profile run at the Auckland mayoralty at just 22 years of age. Generating significant media buzz, she placed a very creditable third.