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Australia's PM fails to endorse predecessor Kevin Rudd for top UN job Australia's PM fails to endorse predecessor Kevin Rudd for UN job
(35 minutes later)
Australia’s prime minister has refused to endorse his predecessor, Kevin Rudd, for the role of secretary general of the United Nations, declaring him unfit for the job.Australia’s prime minister has refused to endorse his predecessor, Kevin Rudd, for the role of secretary general of the United Nations, declaring him unfit for the job.
Rudd, who was prime minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010 and again for a little less than three months in 2013, was vying to succeed Ban Ki-moon when his second five-year term expires at the end of this year, but faced strong opposition from parts of the current administration against formally nominating him for the role.Rudd, who was prime minister of Australia from 2007 to 2010 and again for a little less than three months in 2013, was vying to succeed Ban Ki-moon when his second five-year term expires at the end of this year, but faced strong opposition from parts of the current administration against formally nominating him for the role.
Rudd, a former Labor politician, has also served as foreign minister, and was a diplomat in Beijing in the 1980s. He was a late entrant to the list of contenders to take the UN’s top job, which also includes former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark and frontrunner António Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal.Rudd, a former Labor politician, has also served as foreign minister, and was a diplomat in Beijing in the 1980s. He was a late entrant to the list of contenders to take the UN’s top job, which also includes former New Zealand prime minister Helen Clark and frontrunner António Guterres, a former prime minister of Portugal.
But reports – even from his former colleagues – of Rudd’s controlling approach, volatility and personal idiosyncrasies seem to have compromised his chances for what is regarded as the zenith of diplomacy.But reports – even from his former colleagues – of Rudd’s controlling approach, volatility and personal idiosyncrasies seem to have compromised his chances for what is regarded as the zenith of diplomacy.
Last week a politician from Rudd’s former party, the former New South Wales premier Kristina Keneally, described him as a “psychopathic narcissist”. Last week, a politician from Rudd’s former party, the former New South Wales premier Kristina Keneally, described him as a “psychopathic narcissist”.
The recently elected prime minister and leader of the Liberal party, Malcolm Turnbull,The recently elected prime minister and leader of the Liberal party, Malcolm Turnbull,
announced on Friday that his “considered judgement” was that Rudd was not suited to the role – effectively scuppering his bid. announced on Friday that his “considered judgment” was that Rudd was not suited to the role – effectively scuppering his bid.
“There is a fundamental threshold point, and it is this: does the government believe, do we believe, do I as prime minister believe that Mr Rudd is well suited for that role? My considered judgment is that he is not.”“There is a fundamental threshold point, and it is this: does the government believe, do we believe, do I as prime minister believe that Mr Rudd is well suited for that role? My considered judgment is that he is not.”
He said it was no disparagement of Rudd, who expressed his disappointment on Facebook later on Friday.He said it was no disparagement of Rudd, who expressed his disappointment on Facebook later on Friday.
Rudd wrote that he would have been the first Australian candidate for the secretary-general post in 70 years of the UN, which “would have reflected well on what our nation can offer to the world”.Rudd wrote that he would have been the first Australian candidate for the secretary-general post in 70 years of the UN, which “would have reflected well on what our nation can offer to the world”.
Later on Friday, Rudd took the highly unusual step of releasing three letters he had written to Turnbull on the subject, including one in May after a telephone call in which, according to Rudd, Turnbull for the first time indicated he would not be supporting his candidature.Later on Friday, Rudd took the highly unusual step of releasing three letters he had written to Turnbull on the subject, including one in May after a telephone call in which, according to Rudd, Turnbull for the first time indicated he would not be supporting his candidature.
Rudd said he had been shocked because Turnbull had backed his bid in numerous previous meetings, conversations and messages on the confidential messaging service Wickr, and had even asked for a list of governments he should lobby on Rudd’s behalf.Rudd said he had been shocked because Turnbull had backed his bid in numerous previous meetings, conversations and messages on the confidential messaging service Wickr, and had even asked for a list of governments he should lobby on Rudd’s behalf.
“You had always said to me that the Australian government would be mad not to support my candidature,” Rudd wrote.“You had always said to me that the Australian government would be mad not to support my candidature,” Rudd wrote.
According to Rudd, Turnbull’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, had later contacted him to indicate she and the prime minister had agreed the matter would be decided by cabinet after the 2 July federal election, when the “environment would be infinitely more positive for the consideration of Mr Rudd’s request for nomination” and on this basis he had continued to “take soundings” in diplomatic missions around the world.According to Rudd, Turnbull’s foreign minister, Julie Bishop, had later contacted him to indicate she and the prime minister had agreed the matter would be decided by cabinet after the 2 July federal election, when the “environment would be infinitely more positive for the consideration of Mr Rudd’s request for nomination” and on this basis he had continued to “take soundings” in diplomatic missions around the world.
Cabinet’s decision to refuse endorsement has been interpreted as an attempt by Turnbull to placate the conservative faction of his own party, which he has struggled to get onside since he ousted Tony Abbott as leader and prime minister in late 2015.Cabinet’s decision to refuse endorsement has been interpreted as an attempt by Turnbull to placate the conservative faction of his own party, which he has struggled to get onside since he ousted Tony Abbott as leader and prime minister in late 2015.
Rudd, Turnbull and Abbott are key players in the past decade of political instability in Australia. There have been five changes in prime minister in nine years.Rudd, Turnbull and Abbott are key players in the past decade of political instability in Australia. There have been five changes in prime minister in nine years.
In the most recent election, in July, Turnbull only just managed to scrape a majority with which to form a government, prompting searing criticism from Abbott’s supporters who felt it had been wrong to eject him as prime minister.In the most recent election, in July, Turnbull only just managed to scrape a majority with which to form a government, prompting searing criticism from Abbott’s supporters who felt it had been wrong to eject him as prime minister.
In this climate of internal divisions, several senior members of Turnbull’s cabinet, including the treasurer, Scott Morrison, the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, and the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, were against Rudd’s candidacy.In this climate of internal divisions, several senior members of Turnbull’s cabinet, including the treasurer, Scott Morrison, the finance minister, Mathias Cormann, and the immigration minister, Peter Dutton, were against Rudd’s candidacy.
Anthony Albanese, a Labor frontbencher, tweeted after Turnbull announced his decision that he was pathetic.Anthony Albanese, a Labor frontbencher, tweeted after Turnbull announced his decision that he was pathetic.
Turnbull. Pathetic.Turnbull. Pathetic.
As much as Turnbull is perceived to be bowing to pressure from his cabinet, many others have questioned Rudd’s suitability for the role. As much as Turnbull is perceived to be bowing to pressure from his cabinet, many others have questioned Rudd’s suitability for the role. He reportedly told journalists at a climate change summit in Copenhagen in 2009 that “those Chinese ratfuckers are trying to ratfuck us”.
He reportedly told journalists at a climate change summit in Copenhagen in 2009 that “those Chinese ratfuckers are trying to ratfuck us”.
In 2012, while Rudd was serving as foreign minister under Julia Gillard, who had ousted him two years earlier, footage leaked of him explosively losing his temper while practising a speech in Mandarin.In 2012, while Rudd was serving as foreign minister under Julia Gillard, who had ousted him two years earlier, footage leaked of him explosively losing his temper while practising a speech in Mandarin.
“Can you tell these dickheads in the embassy to just give me simple sentences? ... Tell that bloody interpreter! This fucking language! It just – complicates it – so much. You know?”“Can you tell these dickheads in the embassy to just give me simple sentences? ... Tell that bloody interpreter! This fucking language! It just – complicates it – so much. You know?”