Gillard resigns as Australia PM

26 June 2013 03:34 pm - 18 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard resigned Wednesday after the Australian Labor Party voted her out of its leadership.

She had called for the vote herself after months of inner-party friction ahead of a general election due in September.

Her rival, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, takes her place as party leader, after winning the internal ballot in a 57-45 vote, according to an ALP spokesman.

He is now Australia's de facto prime minister and could be sworn in within hours, if Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce approves him for the office. The governor-general represents Queen Elizabeth II as head of state.

Rudd, who was elected in 2007 but was ousted by Gillard in a leadership challenge in 2010, said he returns to the office of prime minister with "humility, with honor and with an important sense of energy and purpose."

Julia Gillard: Admired abroad, vilified at home

He said the negative politics holding Australia back in recent years "must stop," and that he will strive to achieve this goal as prime minister.

He also paid tribute to Gillard as "a woman of extraordinary intelligence, of great strength and great energy," and said she had achieved remarkable reforms despite heading a minority government.

In her own news conference, Gillard said she was grateful to have had the opportunity to lead her country.

"This privilege was truly humbling. I thank the Australian Labor Party for that privilege and I thank the Australian people for their support," she said.

"When I first put myself forward for consideration for Labor leader in 2010, I had the overwhelming support of my colleagues to do so. I thank them for that. And I thank them for giving the opportunity to me not only to serve the nation but to serve as the first female prime minister of this country."

Gillard said she had written to the governor-general to inform her of the ballot result and asking her to commission Rudd as prime minister. She will go to see Bryce later Wednesday.

Rudd is widely popular with Australian voters, who go to the polls in September to pick a new parliament and government. The ALP has not felt confident it could take an election victory with Gillard at its helm.

Tony Abbott, leader of the official opposition Liberal Party of Australia, accused the ALP of focusing on politics over good government.

In a news conference, he said the people of Australia "deserve better than this," and appealed for voters to back his party if they want a strong, stable and unified government.

"Just a couple of simple facts," Abbott said. "In 2007, you voted for Kevin and got Julia. In 2010, you voted for Julia and got Kevin. If you vote for the Labor Party in 2013, who knows who you will end up with?"

Referring to the upcoming election battle, Rudd said he had finally decided to contest his party's leadership because "it's simply not in my nature to stand idly by and to allow an Abbott government to come to power in this country by default." (Source: CNN)

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Comments - 18

Minister Thursday, 27 June 2013 04:38 AM

Exemplary politician for all to follow!

SL. Patriot Friday, 28 June 2013 08:00 AM

Are DeSilva or DeSelva??? I think Tamil diaspora has push to remove her.Your hopes are finish with LTTE.

Asaranaya Friday, 28 June 2013 07:52 AM

Before vote took place both agreed who ever lost not contest for next election and her speach indicated retired when term over. Classic example for for specially our opperdition leader serving 20 yrs oppersition now.

mohan Thursday, 27 June 2013 08:56 AM

Mr. Ranilwickramasinghe this is over to you

Ceylonese Thursday, 27 June 2013 07:25 AM

She did a tremendous job as the first woman Prime Minister of Australia in a short span of three years. Her failure to stop the influx of asylum seeker boats into the country largely contributed to her downfall for which Sri Lanka also is partly to be blamed.

Indi Thursday, 27 June 2013 06:54 AM

Australia is a democratic country but this kind of thing will never happen in Sri Lanka.For 17 yrs they will make people to go thru hell.

DeSelva Thursday, 27 June 2013 06:49 AM

she was one of the worst prime ministers of Australia.
Hope now Australia go ahead and boycott the CHOGAM

Jagath Thursday, 27 June 2013 06:15 AM

I hope the UNP too will take a lesson from this. Just get rid of unpopular leader if you want to win elections.

david Thursday, 27 June 2013 05:26 AM

Welcome to SRILANKA ,good political future here,

Muheed Jeeran Wednesday, 26 June 2013 05:01 PM

Well the leadership process of ALP is like Rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic!! In another 80 days, Liberals and National coalition will win a landslide election in Australia!!

CHC Thursday, 27 June 2013 04:20 AM

I wish our leadership and politicians would follow suit..........!!!

The God Father Thursday, 27 June 2013 04:20 AM

I hope and pray for the same democracy in Sri Lanka.

Abdul Thursday, 27 June 2013 01:04 AM

Gentleman politics and democracy.

C.K.Lankaputhra Thursday, 27 June 2013 12:18 AM

Can ever happen in Sri Lanka? Never ever? Because we have five star democracy.

Jagath Leanage Wednesday, 26 June 2013 11:32 PM

Will similar thing happen in Sri Lanka? Do our M.P,s' have a back bone to criticize their own leader?

Lanka Kolla Thursday, 27 June 2013 12:00 AM

We all can see that u r a big supporter of the terrorist diaspora, with the comments that i have put... Ppl like u r a menace to this whole world...Anyway i am sure that Kevin Rudd will keep Julia's promise and attend the CHGOM... via DM Android App

ESIKA Wednesday, 26 June 2013 05:47 PM

Good example for our politicians.

Porky Pig Wednesday, 26 June 2013 05:40 PM

Jolly good. These are the people who decided to visit Sri Lanka for the CHOGM. Hope the faith falls to the one in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Gillard resigns as Australia PM

Comments - 18

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