Australian Prime Minister ousted by Former Minister

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(RT.com) Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s freshly-resigned Communications Minister, has toppled Tony Abbott in Liberal leadership ballot and is now the country’s prime minister-designate. Turnbull, Abbott’s long-term rival, has won a secret party room vote by 54 to 44, announced by Liberal Party Whip Scott Buchholz. “Tonight there were two ballots conducted; one ballot for leader, one ballot for deputy leader,” Buchholz said. For the leadership, “Malcolm Turnbull was successful on 54, Tony Abbott on 44 and one was informal.” Julie Bishop retained her role as deputy with a margin of 70-30 over challenger Kevin Andrews, having earlier declared her support for Turnbull as leader. Earlier on Monday, Turnbull, while resigning from the cabinet, asked Abbott to step down, declaring a challenge to Abbott for the Liberal party leadership, and therefore leadership of the country. “A little while ago I met with the prime minister and advised him that I would be challenging him for the leadership of the Liberal party,” Turnbull told reporters before the vote. “This is not a decision that anyone could take lightly.” Turnbull said that Abbott“has not been capable of providing the economic leadership,”and he“has not been capable of providing the economic confidence that business needs.”

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