Alternation in Australia: the outgoing Prime Minister, the Conservative Scott Morrison, lost the legislative elections, this Saturday, May 21, 2022. Labor Anthony Albanese, who claimed victory for his troops, should replace him at the head of the country. It remains to be seen whether he will have an absolute majority.
The Labor Party came out on top in the legislative elections this Saturday in Australia, to the detriment of the Conservatives, in power for nine years, and the outgoing head of government Scott Morrison.
According to projections by the ABC channel, after counting more than half of the votes, the Labor Party won 72 MPs out of 151, four seats less than an absolute majority.
Anthony Albanese, 59, was therefore not entirely assured, at the end of the evening, of obtaining an absolute majority in the House of Representatives, and therefore of being able to do without an ally in Parliament.
Never mind, Australians have voted for change “, he launched in his victory speech, adding that he would take office as Prime Minister on Monday, May 23.
Mr. Albanese also announced that he would participate, on Tuesday in Tokyo, in the Quad summit, which brings together the United States, India, Japan and Australia, with his future head of diplomacy, Penny Wong.
Scott Morrison also called it: ” Tonight I spoke to the Leader of the Opposition and new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and congratulated him on his election victory “, he said.
The environmental issue took precedence
Australia is emerging from three years marked by major disasters – droughts, fires, etc. –, in addition to Covid-19. And this was felt during these legislative elections.
Australian citizens have indeed voted for an unusual number of pro-environment candidates, who could negotiate their support for Mr. Albanese if he only obtained a relative majority.
The Green Party is doing well, as are the independents, the “teals”. This is for many women defending the environment, but also gender equality and the fight against corruption.
These candidates were on the way, Saturday evening, to conquer a series of Australian urban constituencies which are however, traditionally, vested in the conservatives.
►Also listen: The Australian federal elections, a chance for the climate
If the campaign focused on the personalities of the two adversaries, the lack of interest of the outgoing Prime Minister for the ecological cause must have worked against him. It is his inaction that is sanctioned.
” People have said the climate crisis is something they want to take action on “, rejoices Adam Bandt, leader of the Green Party, who believes that the country-continent can no longer turn a blind eye.
We just had three years of drought, then fires and now floods and more floods. People can see it, it’s happening, it’s getting worse.
Massive fuel exports
The youth vote will have to be studied. Many are exasperated by pro-coal policies, or by the difficulties in finding affordable housing and the misuse of public money.
Scott Morrison had resisted calls to reduce his country’s CO2 emissions more quickly by 2030, wholeheartedly supporting the coal industry, a driving force of the Australian economy.
Anthony Albanese has promised that Canberra will end its backlog in the fight against climate change and make the country a renewable energy “superpower”.
Raised by a single mother in social housing in Sydney, Mr Albanese also wants to help those facing soaring prices and boost the inclusion of indigenous people.
►Read again: In Australia, federal elections against a backdrop of mistrust of Scott Morrison
The first head of government not to have a Celtic or Anglo-Saxon surname must now strike a balance, with factions of his party remaining in favor of mining unions.
Labor promises, in particular, to ” end climate wars “, without specifying what this will mean for the coal sector, while Australia exports fossil fuels.
Le Drian: this defeat of Morrison “ suits me very well »
Struggling in the polls for a year, the outgoing Prime Minister of Australia tried during the campaign to highlight the ongoing economic recovery and the historically low unemployment rate in Australia. In vain.
Scott Morrison has suffered from his low popularity, but also from accusations of dishonesty launched in his country. Testifies to this the diplomatic quarrel which he had created between Canberra and Paris in the “contract of the century” affair.
Last year, Australia had indeed broken a vast contract for the purchase of French submarines, for more than 50 billion euros, favoring Anglo-American nuclear-powered submarines despite its commitments.
” The defeat of the Prime Minister suits me very well “Reacted this Saturday the former French Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean-Yves Le Drian, when he handed over his post to his successor, Catherine Colonna.
“ The actions taken at the time they were taken were brutal and cynical, and I would even be tempted to say notorious incompetence “, even scolded Mr. Le Drian, usually unfamiliar with this type of declaration.
I will not help saying that the defeat of Prime Minister Morrison suits me very well! Because the actions taken with regard to France, at the time they were taken, were brutal, cynical, and I would even be tempted to say a form of notorious incompetence.
Jean-Yves Le Drian, outgoing French Foreign Minister
With agencies