Australian PM Tony Abbot is facing a leadership crisis
Tony Abbott promised to restore stability and maturity when he became Australia’s prime minister after six years of what he called a “Labor circus”.
Tony Abbott promised to restore stability and maturity when he became Australia’s prime minister after six years of what he called a “Labor circus”.
Since then he has offended feminists, greens, and even his own party with his
confrontational approach to restoring “traditional” Australian values. He
famously promised to ''shirt -front'' President Vladimir Putin of Russia
Now it is Tony Abbott who has been “shirt-fronted”.On Monday Feb 09,2015, he faces an attempt from his own MPs to remove him an
office, which would make him the third prime minister to have suffered the
same fate in fewer than five years.
Tony Abbott, a no-nonsense, fitness-obsessed monarchist nicknamed the Mad Monk for his past as a trainee Roman Catholic priest was never personally popular.
Tony Abbott's machismo, symbolised by his habit of allowing himself to be photographed in tight red swimming trunks, was too much even for Australia.
At first he managed to unite his right-of-centre Liberal party and become Australia’s 28th prime minister.
But his leadership has been increasingly called into question over his broader politics - he has slashed spending, and tried to charge fees for visiting a doctor - and his personal judgement.
The final straw was his decision to award Prince Philip a Knighthood, under a once-abolished awards system that he had controversially reintroduced. The award, critics say, has made Australia a laughing stock.
When the Liberal party’s 102 MPs meet in a no-confidence vote, it is not yet clear who if anyone Mr Abbott may be facing afterwards.
Tony Abbott is expected to have to square off against Malcolm Turnbull, a former leader and his long-term rival.
The two candidates have numerous striking similarities. Both attended private schools in Sydney, then went to Sydney University and were Rhodes Scholars at Oxford University before starting their careers as journalists.
Both are Catholics, and became national political figures during the heady debate over whether Australia should become a republic – on opposite sides, with Tony Abbott winning out over the staunchly republican Malcolm Turnbull.
Malcolm Turnbull has remained silent and has not yet revealed whether he will run but has pointedly avoided pledging support for his leader.
Even if Tony Abbott survives on Monday Feb 09,2015, few expect he will remain as leader of the ruling coalition until the next election, due in 2016.
The leadership test, initiated by a backbencher on Friday Feb 06,2015, came after a series of policy mis-steps by Tony Abbott that saw his popularity tumble.
But the prime minister said the issue had now been settled, stating "this matter is behind us".
"When you elect a government, when you elect a prime minister, you deserve to keep that government and that prime minister until you have a chance to change your mind," Tony Abbott said.
"So the focus now is once more on jobs, families, a stronger economy and a secure nation."
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (C) walks with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (R) to a coalition party room in Canberra on February 9, 2015 for a confidence vote on his leadership
If it had succeeded, the party room, or Liberal Party members of both houses of parliament, could vote for new candidates.
But the 101 Liberal parliamentarians -- one was absent -- rejected the proposal by 61 to 39 in a secret ballot. One vote was deemed "informal" and discarded for either being incorrectly completed or not filled in at all.
Tony Abbott, a no-nonsense, fitness-obsessed monarchist nicknamed the Mad Monk for his past as a trainee Roman Catholic priest was never personally popular.
Tony Abbott's machismo, symbolised by his habit of allowing himself to be photographed in tight red swimming trunks, was too much even for Australia.
At first he managed to unite his right-of-centre Liberal party and become Australia’s 28th prime minister.
But his leadership has been increasingly called into question over his broader politics - he has slashed spending, and tried to charge fees for visiting a doctor - and his personal judgement.
The final straw was his decision to award Prince Philip a Knighthood, under a once-abolished awards system that he had controversially reintroduced. The award, critics say, has made Australia a laughing stock.
When the Liberal party’s 102 MPs meet in a no-confidence vote, it is not yet clear who if anyone Mr Abbott may be facing afterwards.
Tony Abbott is expected to have to square off against Malcolm Turnbull, a former leader and his long-term rival.
The two candidates have numerous striking similarities. Both attended private schools in Sydney, then went to Sydney University and were Rhodes Scholars at Oxford University before starting their careers as journalists.
Both are Catholics, and became national political figures during the heady debate over whether Australia should become a republic – on opposite sides, with Tony Abbott winning out over the staunchly republican Malcolm Turnbull.
Malcolm Turnbull has remained silent and has not yet revealed whether he will run but has pointedly avoided pledging support for his leader.
Even if Tony Abbott survives on Monday Feb 09,2015, few expect he will remain as leader of the ruling coalition until the next election, due in 2016.
Australian PM Abbott survives leadership challenge
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has urged an end to disunity after surviving a party confidence vote on his leadership.
Liberal Party MPs voted by 61 to 39 not to open up his position to challengers. The leadership test, initiated by a backbencher on Friday Feb 06,2015, came after a series of policy mis-steps by Tony Abbott that saw his popularity tumble.
But the prime minister said the issue had now been settled, stating "this matter is behind us".
"When you elect a government, when you elect a prime minister, you deserve to keep that government and that prime minister until you have a chance to change your mind," Tony Abbott said.
"So the focus now is once more on jobs, families, a stronger economy and a secure nation."
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (C) walks with Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (R) to a coalition party room in Canberra on February 9, 2015 for a confidence vote on his leadership
Tony Abbott has been fighting for his job after poor poll ratings and a series of policy backflips spurred some MPs from his conservative Liberal Party to openly attack him, calling last week for a leadership "spill".
The motion aimed to declare vacant the positions of party leader and deputy leader, occupied by Abbott and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.If it had succeeded, the party room, or Liberal Party members of both houses of parliament, could vote for new candidates.
But the 101 Liberal parliamentarians -- one was absent -- rejected the proposal by 61 to 39 in a secret ballot. One vote was deemed "informal" and discarded for either being incorrectly completed or not filled in at all.
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