Australia's prime minister wins second term, local broadcasters project
Australia’s incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has won a second term in a close general election Saturday, local broadcasters projected, in a defeat for the conservative coalition that was undermined at the ballot box by its association with President Donald Trump.
Australia’s incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has won a second term in a close general election Saturday, local broadcasters projected, in a defeat for the conservative coalition that was undermined at the ballot box by its association with President Donald Trump.
The Labor Party pulled ahead of the conservative Liberal-National coalition, led by Peter Dutton, with the Australian Electoral Commission’s early projections suggesting at least 70 of the 150 House seats for Labor, according to the Australian broadcaster ABC.
“Not the night we wanted,” Dutton said at his party headquarters, adding that he had congratulated Albanese on his win.
Independent candidates and minor parties are projected to take about 13 seats in parliament, which means Albanese may have to form a coalition if the final count shows that his party ultimately falls short of a parliamentary majority.
Concerns among Australians over the soaring cost of living and the lack of affordable housing dominated the election at a time when interest rates remain high. Geopolitical relations with China, Australia’s largest trading partner, were also front of mind for voters.
Rating: 5