Finance Minister Bill English is set to become New Zealand's new prime minister following the resignation of John Key earlier this week.
English’s two rivals for the post, Corrections Minister Judith Collins and Health Minister Jonathan Coleman, withdrew from the contest Thursday, the New Zealand Herald reported.
English thanked Collins and Coleman for a "civil, constructive" race and told reporters he would refrain from commenting on prime ministerial matters until the leadership selection process was officially completed.
"While it appears that I'm likely to have the support of the caucus on Monday, that hasn't happened. So I'm not going to be making pronouncements as an assumed leader of the party,” he was quoted as saying.