Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speaks during a press conference, in Sydney.(Photo: Rick Rycroft, AP)
Australia's Prime Minister Tony Abbott has moved a challenge to his leadership to Monday in the interests of ending uncertainty about his government's direction.
The challenge was triggered by disgruntled government lawmakers last week and was originally due to be discussed on Tuesday at the first scheduled meeting for the year of the ruling Liberal Party's 102 lawmakers.
But Abbott said Sunday that he had arranged a special meeting for Monday morning. "The last thing Australia needs right now is instability and uncertainty," he said.
Abbott has conceded he could lose in the vote, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
"It's a pretty chastening experience to have a spill motion moved on you after just 16 months in government - a very chastening experience," he told the broadcaster Sunday.
"And I am determined that my government, if it continues after tomorrow, will learn from this experience, will be different and better."
USA TODAY
Australia's polarizing prime minister faces political crisis
Abbott has come under increasing criticism from some members of his party — which is conservative— over the government's sagging approval ratings. Polls have slumped since May, when the government's first annual budget was widely criticized as toughest on the poor and most vulnerable.
Recently, Abbott drew widespread criticism by making Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth II's husband, an Australian knight on Australia's national day. Many saw it as an insult to worthy Australians.
Public dislike of Abbott has been blamed in part for big election losses for conservative governments in Victoria state in November and Queensland state last month.
If the so-called spill motion passes, the positions of the prime minister and his deputy, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, will be declared open. There would then be secret ballots of Liberal lawmakers to either return Abbott and Bishop or replace them.
Abbott is counting on a majority of his party colleagues defeating the motion so that the ballots don't take place and the level of his support is not tested.
No lawmaker has yet announced he or she would be prepared to run against Abbott if the motion passed.
Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who led the party in opposition until he lost to the more conservative Abbott in a leadership ballot in 2009 by a single vote, is touted as the favorite to replace him. Turnbull refused to say on Sunday whether he would contest the leadership.
"The Cabinet ministers are all expected to support the prime minister on a spill motion," Turnbull told Nine Network television, indicating that he would vote against the motion.
Contributing: Associated Press
Powered By WizardRSS.com |
Full Text RSS Feed
