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Australia’s Ex-Premier Renounces Future Party Leadership Australia’s Ex-Premier Renounces Future Party Leadership
(about 5 hours later)
SYDNEY, Australia — A day after a failed attempt by his supporters to reinstall him, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia announced Friday that he would never again seek to lead the governing Labor Party. SYDNEY, Australia — A day after a failed effort by his supporters to reinstall him, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd of Australia announced on Friday that he would never again seek to lead the governing Labor Party.
“Mr. Rudd wishes to make 100 percent clear to all members of the parliamentary Labor Party, including his own supporters, that there are no circumstances under which he will return to the Labor Party leadership in the future,” a statement posted Friday on Mr. Rudd’s Web site said.“Mr. Rudd wishes to make 100 percent clear to all members of the parliamentary Labor Party, including his own supporters, that there are no circumstances under which he will return to the Labor Party leadership in the future,” a statement posted Friday on Mr. Rudd’s Web site said.
On Thursday, Mr. Rudd unexpectedly declined to challenge Prime Minister Julia Gillard in a leadership vote that one of his chief supporters had demanded. The statement said he wanted to end once and for all the speculation over potential challenges to Ms. Gillard that has roiled Australia’s governing party for months.On Thursday, Mr. Rudd unexpectedly declined to challenge Prime Minister Julia Gillard in a leadership vote that one of his chief supporters had demanded. The statement said he wanted to end once and for all the speculation over potential challenges to Ms. Gillard that has roiled Australia’s governing party for months.
Repercussions from Thursday’s attempted ouster continued Friday as several Rudd supporters resigned from their posts over the affair, including Chris Bowen, a senior minister, and the Labor Party whip Joel Fitzgibbon. Repercussions from Thursday’s attempted ouster continued Friday as several Rudd supporters resigned from their posts over the affair, including Chris Bowen, a senior minister, and the Labor Party whip, Joel Fitzgibbon.
Senator Kim Carr, a backer of Mr. Rudd’s who resigned Friday as human services minister, said at a news conference that he had advised Mr. Rudd not to challenge Ms. Gillard once it became clear that he lacked the numbers to defeat her. Mr. Carr is one of the few Rudd supporters to have given any public account of the discussions that preceded the vote. Senator Kim Carr, a backer of Mr. Rudd who resigned Friday as human services minister, said at a news conference that he had advised Mr. Rudd not to challenge Ms. Gillard once it became clear that he lacked the numbers to defeat her. Mr. Carr is one of the few Rudd supporters to have given any public account of the discussions that preceded the vote.
‘'While the results would have been very, very close, the worst result for Labor was for there to be a narrow loss for Kevin, because it would have been the most difficult of circumstances for all of us to be able to argue,'’ he said. “While the results would have been very, very close, the worst result for Labor was for there to be a narrow loss for Kevin, because it would have been the most difficult of circumstances for all of us to be able to argue,” he said.
Simon Crean, the former party leader who demanded the leadership vote, has denied that Mr. Rudd knew in advance about his plans. Still, he seemed shaken by the move and expressed anger that Mr. Rudd had not taken advantage of the opportunity.Simon Crean, the former party leader who demanded the leadership vote, has denied that Mr. Rudd knew in advance about his plans. Still, he seemed shaken by the move and expressed anger that Mr. Rudd had not taken advantage of the opportunity.
‘'He should have run; there’s no question about that because I think that itself could have been an important cleansing for the party,'’ Mr. Crean told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday. “He should have run; there’s no question about that because I think that itself could have been an important cleansing for the party,” Mr. Crean told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday.
Ms. Gillard, Australia’s first female prime minister, ousted Mr. Rudd in a 2010 party coup and has led a tenuous minority government since her parliamentary majority was reduced in an election later that year. Although she beat back a leadership challenge from Mr. Rudd early in 2012, she has fallen sharply in the polls since announcing in January that federal elections would be held in September.Ms. Gillard, Australia’s first female prime minister, ousted Mr. Rudd in a 2010 party coup and has led a tenuous minority government since her parliamentary majority was reduced in an election later that year. Although she beat back a leadership challenge from Mr. Rudd early in 2012, she has fallen sharply in the polls since announcing in January that federal elections would be held in September.
After his attempt to oust Ms. Gillard in 2012 failed, Mr. Rudd said that he would not seek the leadership again unless the position was vacant and he had overwhelming support from the party. But it was widely known before Thursday that his supporters had been canvassing for votes to have him reinstalled. After his effort to oust Ms. Gillard in 2012 failed, Mr. Rudd said that he would not seek the leadership again unless the position was vacant and he had overwhelming support from the party. But it was widely known before Thursday that his supporters had been canvassing for votes to have him reinstalled.