Former Australian PM Quits as Foreign Minister – The Soap Opera Continues
For
mer Australian PM Quits as Foreign Minister – The Soap Opera Continues
Well, things have suddenly heated up in politics down under – again … and who knows what will transpire for our country’s leadership over the next few days.
Former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd – who was elected to the top job by the Australian people in 2007, but was dumped by his own Labor Party and replaced by current PM Julia Gillard almost two years ago – has dramatically quit today as Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs. His resignation was handed down while he was on duty in Washington, DC, in the early hours of this morning. It adds to what can only be described as a two-year “soap opera” in Australian politics.
As PM, Rudd’s popularity slumped in 2010 as rumors of his demanding work ethic and dedication to the job – plus his testy, fatigued temper, waivering over an Emissions Trading Scheme and mishandling of a new mining tax – became folklore. Fearing a voter backlash, his party replaced him in June 2010 – surprisingly, not needing the consent of the Australian people.
Julia Gillard became the new party-voted PM that same day, 24 June 2010, but decided to go to the public vote in September 2010. It was an election she did not win outright and was forced to cobble together a minority government, which she managed – just. (Interestingly, Ben Fulford wrote on November 21, last year that: “Australian Anzus agents have given me evidence that your Prime Minister Julia Gillard was undemocratically placed in power by agents of the privately owned US Federal Reserve Board”.)
Since becoming PM, however, Gillard’s leadership has been plagued by questions over her role in Rudd’s demise and bad public polling. Sparked by a TV interview she gave to the Australian ABC-TV “Four Corners” program on Monday February 13, where she faced questions over her role in Rudd’s original downfall, the Australian media has literally been awash with talk of a possible leadership challenge, ironically, by former PM Rudd.
His resignation today as Foreign Minister leaves many questions unanswered. Was he about to be sacked for supposed disloyalty to Gillard? Is he about to challenge Gillard for the top job of PM – and if so, will she be ‘out’ and him ‘in’; or will he be ‘out’ for good? Has he learned he simply does not have the numbers to challenge to become PM again? Will he quietly take a minor role on what’s known as “the back bench”? Or, will he quit politics altogether?
So the Aussie PM soap opera suddenly has a new cliff-hanger. How it will conclude, no one knows.
But the people, the voters, will get no say. Party members only will decide – that’s if a vote for a possible new PM is called.
And, for all of us Australians, it’s just another week in politics “down under”-style.
UPDATE – February 23: PM Julia Gillard has called for a Labor Party leadership ballot to be held at 10am (AEDST) on Monday, February 26.
UPDATE – February 24: former PM Kevin Rudd has declared he WILL stand against Julia Gillard at Monday’s leadership ballot. Whoever wins will be Australia’s Prime Minister.
FINAL UPDATE- February 27 – Julia Gillard has won the confidence of her Labor Party colleagues and has won the leadership vote 71-31. She remains the Australian Prime Minister. Mr Rudd now moves to what is known as the back bench.
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