Conservatives punished as Australia’s Albanian opposition wins election – News

• Australia’s Conservative Prime Minister Scott Morrison has conceded defeat in a general election.
• He called opposition leader Anthony Albanese from the Labor Party and congratulated him on his victory, Morrison said in the evening (local time).
• The 54-year-old, who has been head of government since 2018, spoke of a “tough night for the Liberals.”

With tears in his eyes, Albanese declared to the cheers of his supporters: “This victory fills me with humility and I am proud to have the opportunity to serve as the 31st Prime Minister of Australia.” He promised to promote unity and hope and to find a solution to the climate crisis.

According to ABC calculations, Labor could form at least one minority government, and that would be enough for a majority government. By evening, the party had won 72 seats in the lower house. Majority 76 seats. According to these figures, the Conservative coalition of Liberals and Nationals, which has ruled together since 2013, initially had only 55 seats. Can’t get a majority anymore. Defense Secretary Peter Dutton called the coalition a “terrible day.”

The election results were in balance for a long time. The main reason is that many of the independent candidates who won at least eleven seats and the Australian Green Party (The Greens), who initially won two seats, performed well. “It will completely change the political landscape of Australia,” said a commentator on Australian television. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.

About 17 million eligible voters were invited to cast their ballots in all 151 seats in the lower house and half of the 78 seats in the Senate. There is a mandatory choice. Half of Australians are said to have voted in advance. 2.7 million postal votes were not counted on Saturday.