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Australia’s Leader Accepts Vote on Her Control of Labor Party Australia’s Leader Ousted in Vote by Her Own Party
(about 3 hours later)
SYDNEY, Australia — Prime Minister Julia Gillard of Australia on Wednesday sought to put an end to weeks of speculation about a leadership challenge from within her own Labor Party by calling for an immediate inter-party vote that could see her replaced as leader by the man Ms. Gillard ousted in a 2010 party coup. SYDNEY, Australia — The former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on Wednesday pulled off one of the most sensational political comebacks in this country’s history, ousting in a party vote the woman who replaced him as leader of the Labor Party in a 2010 party coup, Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Ms. Gillard announced that a leadership vote would be held at 7 p.m. local time on Wednesday in the wake of reports that supporters of former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd were marshaling their forces for a third leadership challenge in as many years aimed at ousting Ms. Gillard, whose popularity in polls has sunk to an all-time low. The victory by Mr. Rudd in a closed-door vote late Wednesday paves the way for an end to the rocky tenure in power for Ms. Gillard, who had called the surprise vote in an attempt to head off a challenge from his backers. Much of the momentum to reinstate Mr. Rudd came from a steady drumbeat of polls showing that the party under Ms. Gillard was almost certain to face a catastrophic loss in elections to be held in September.
Mr. Rudd quickly confirmed at a hastily assembled news conference that he would challenge Ms. Gillard for the party leadership, saying that the “parlous circumstances we now face” had convinced him to reverse his previous assertions that he would not challenge again.
“We are on a course for a catastrophic defeat unless there is a change,” he said.
Before his announcement, a defiant Ms. Gillard, who has said that she will leave parliament at the next elections if she loses the leadership vote, told Sky News that anyone who believed they should be the party’s leader should once and for all put themselves forward in the ballot. She said that she would only put her own name forward, however, if she had a “degree of confidence” that she would prevail.
“There are no more opportunities, tonight is the night,” she said.
Ms. Gillard became Australia’s first female prime minister in a 2010 party coup that ousted Mr. Rudd, who was derided during his tenure for an authoritarian leadership style. But she has seen her poll ratings plummet since announcing in January, unusually early, that federal elections would be held in September.Ms. Gillard became Australia’s first female prime minister in a 2010 party coup that ousted Mr. Rudd, who was derided during his tenure for an authoritarian leadership style. But she has seen her poll ratings plummet since announcing in January, unusually early, that federal elections would be held in September.
She has led a tenuous minority government since her parliamentary majority was diminished in the 2010 elections. Although she beat back a first leadership challenge from Mr. Rudd early in 2012 and another abortive challenge from his supporters in March of this year, she has since slid in the polls against Tony Abbott, the leader of the opposition Liberal-National coalition. Ultimately, Ms. Gillard was never able to fully cement her position as leader, owing in part to the manner in which she came to power. She also faced a relentless political opposition that worked hard to deny her the kudos a different leader might have received under similar circumstances and with a similarly wide range of legislative accomplishments.
The announcement seemed designed to head off a plan to force a leadership vote by backers of Mr. Rudd, who were said to have begun circulating a petition among members of the Labor Party calling for a leadership ballot before parliament adjourns for the year on Thursday. Late Wednesday afternoon, a Labor Parliamentarian, Chris Hayes, announced to reporters that Mr. Rudd had won the party’s backling during a nearly hourlong session.
Ms. Gillard had repeatedly insisted that she will not step aside for Mr. Rudd, despite a steady stream of polls that show Labor would fare considerably better in the election under his leadership. “It is Kevin Rudd 57 votes, Julia Gillard 45 votes, " he said.
Mr. Abbott, who polls suggest could secure a large parliamentary majority at the upcoming elections, assailed Ms. Gillard’s party as dysfunctional and called on her to call a snap election to end the political impasse. He warned voters that a change in the party’s leadership would not translate into changes in Labor policies that have proven deeply unpopular with the electorate. Despite Mr. Rudd’s victory within his own party, he is not automatically assured of becoming the new prime minister. It remained immediately unclear whether he had enough support from the independent lawmakers whose support allowed Ms. Gillard to form a government following Labor’s disappointing showing at the last elections. The process starts when Ms. Gillard now formally asks the country’s governor general to make Mr. Rudd prime minister.
Ms. Guillard’s fate seemed to be sealed Wednesday when, just moments before the party vote was to be held, a Labor Party power broker, Bill Shorten, known as one of the “faceless men” who orchestrated the previous coup that ousted Mr. Rudd in favor of Ms. Gillard, told reporters that he would be swinging his votes behind the former prime minister in an effort to salvage the party’s chances at the September election.
Ms. Guillard has led a tenuous minority government since her parliamentary majority was diminished in the 2010 elections. Although she beat back a first leadership challenge from Mr. Rudd early in 2012 and another abortive challenge from his supporters in March of this year, she has since slid in the polls against Tony Abbott, the leader of the opposition Liberal-National coalition.
Mr. Abbott, who polls suggest could secure a large parliamentary majority in the upcoming elections, assailed Ms. Gillard’s party as dysfunctional and urged her to call a snap election to end the political impasse. He warned voters that a change in Labor’s leadership would not translate into changes in Labor policies that have proven deeply unpopular with the electorate.
“It seems that the Labor party caucus has not just lost faith in the prime minister but is losing faith with the Labor party itself,” he told reporters in the capital, Canberra, on Wednesday.“It seems that the Labor party caucus has not just lost faith in the prime minister but is losing faith with the Labor party itself,” he told reporters in the capital, Canberra, on Wednesday.
“The Labor party may well change its leader, but it doesn’t matter who leads the Labor party, it will still be much the same government with much the same policies.”“The Labor party may well change its leader, but it doesn’t matter who leads the Labor party, it will still be much the same government with much the same policies.”