CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard was ousted as Labor Party leader today by her predecessor, Kevin Rudd, in a vote of party lawmakers hoping to avoid a huge defeat in upcoming elections.
The ballot took place three years and two days after Gillard ousted Rudd in a similar internal government showdown to become the country’s first female prime minister. She lacked Rudd’s charisma, and although many Labor lawmakers preferred her style, her deepening unpopularity among voters compelled a majority to seek a change ahead of elections that are set for Sept. 14 but could be held in August.
Wednesday’s 57-to-45 vote makes Rudd leader of the party. Governor-General Quentin Bryce could make him prime minister as early as Thursday, but Rudd likely will have to demonstrate that he can command a majority of lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
Labor depends on independents and a minor party for its fragile ruling coalition, but Rudd appeared capable of retaining it after two independent lawmakers who did not back Gillard’s government said they would support his.
Rudd gave no indication of new policy directions or when he expected Australians would go to the polls.
“In 2007, the Australian people elected me to be their prime minister and that is a task I resume today with humility, with honor and with an important sense of energy and purpose,” he said in a statement.
He paid tribute to Gillard.
“She is a woman of extraordinary intelligence, of great strength and great energy,” Rudd said. “She has been a remarkable reformer.”
Opposition leader Tony Abbott called on Rudd to name an election date, arguing it should be sooner than the September 14 date set by Gillard.
The party ballot ends a bitter rivalry between Gillard and Rudd that helped create an atmosphere of chaos and disunity. Gillard had survived two previous attempts by Rudd to take over.
Gillard had vowed to quit Parliament at the next election if she lost, and said after the vote that she would fulfill that pledge.
She said she was proud of her government’s achievements, including the introduction of an unpopular carbon tax paid by the biggest industrial polluters.
Gillard had been dogged by her pre-election promise never to introduce such a tax. The Greens party, which supported her government, blamed sexism for much of the public hostility she endured.
Gillard, who made international headlines for calling Abbott a misogynist, also hit back at critics who accused her of playing the gender card.
Because of her tenure, she said, “It will be easier for the next woman and the woman after that and the woman after that. And I’m proud of that.”
After speaking to the media, Gillard went to the governor-general to tender her resignation.
