John Key has resigned as prime minister of New Zealand in a shock announcement. The National Party leader said on Monday that he had “nothing left in the tank” after serving the country for eight years.

Key told reporters at his press conference on Monday that he could not look the public in the eye and tell them he would still serve a full fourth term. He will resign on Dec. 12, and by then National MPs will hold a special meeting to select a new leader. He will then tender his resignation to Governor General Patsy Reddy.

“This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made and I don’t know what I’ll do next,” he said, citing family reasons for his abrupt exit.

His wife Bronagh has sacrificed a lot for the family while he served as New Zealand’s leader, enduring “many lonely nights” as a result. Their children, Stephie and Max, have also endured “extraordinary levels of intrusion.”

“I gave everything I had, I had nothing left in the tank,” Key said.

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