Joyce announced today that he would resign.
Joyce (Barnaby Joyce) announced today that he will resign as deputy prime minister and leader of the National Party, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
Joyce has been under pressure to resign after his extramarital affair with former employees was revealed. In addition, the National Party has also received complaints of sexual harassment against Joyce.
Joyce said he would step down as party leader at the National Party meeting in Canberra next Monday morning and move to a backseat to continue to represent the New England (New England) constituency in New York and not resign from Congress.
Joyce said he intended to remain in his seat and did not rule out a return to leadership. "people are really giving me support," he said. I want to say that I have failed the support you have given me. I want to say, not only for Parliament, but more importantly for Conping (Vikki Campion, Joyce`s new partner, my unborn child, my daughter and Natalie (Natalie, Joyce`s ex-wife), it has to stop, and it`s not fair to them. This is completely, absolutely unfounded. "
Today, he informed acting Prime Minister Coleman (Mathias Cormann). Of his decision to resign.
At present, Joyce has not yet disclosed who will take over as deputy prime minister and leader of the National Party.
On Feb. 22, the National Party confirmed that its leadership had received formal complaints of sexual harassment by Joyce, the Australian news agency reported. The federal director of the National Party, Hindmarsh (Ben Hindmarsh), said the complaint would be taken seriously, strictly confidential and handled according to formal procedures. Acting Prime Minister Coleman (Mathias Cormann) described the charges as "very serious".
Joyce called the charges "fabricated and slanderous." "if they have evidence, they should give it to the police," he told news channel 9 on Feb. 23.
Acting Prime Minister Coleman says any allegations of sexual harassment are serious. "Joyce denied the charges," he told reporters in Sydney. "the allegations are under investigation and will be subject to the results of the investigation. It is clear that there will be reasonable steps to follow. " It is understood that Joyce has handed over the charges to the police.
Earlier, several members of the National Party called on Joyce to resign. Visiting U. S. Prime Minister Tembo (Malcolm Turnbull) has refused to publicly support Joyce, saying only: "the leadership of the National Party is a matter for the National Party."
Mr. Tan later confirmed Joyce`s resignation as leader of the National Party, saying that his resignation would not weaken the partnership between the Liberal Party and the National Party. "the Liberal Party and National Party alliance is Australia`s most successful political partnership, lasting more than 95 years," he said in a statement. This partnership has not been weakened and will continue to provide opportunities and stability for all Australians. "
Tan Bao thanked Joyce. "I thank Joyce for his service as Deputy Prime Minister and a number of ministerial positions," he said. "he has become an active advocate of rural and remote Australia."
Tan Bao said Joyce`s resignation will lead to a cabinet reshuffle. Prior to the reshuffle, Senator McVeigh (John McVeigh) will temporarily assume the post of Secretary of Infrastructure and Transport.
Who will succeed Joyce? We`ll see you next Monday.
There are three potential candidates to succeed Joyce as the new leader of the National Party, including a gastroenterologist, a media man, and a new star in agriculture.
According to the Australian news agency, many people have mentioned that (Maranoa) district councilor in Malano, Queensland, is expected to compete with Littlewood (David Littleproud).
The 41-year-old political nova, who runs agriculture in south-west Brisbane, was elected to Congress in 2016 and moved to the cabinet as agriculture minister two months ago. Littlewood came from a political family, and his father was a longtime state congressman and director of Queensland.
Another potential challenger, McCormack (Michael McCormack), was editor of the Voga (Wagga) local newspaper (Daily Advertiser) in the 1990s and was elected in 2010 as a federal councilor for (Riverina), a new state-based Rifrena.
McCormack, the veteran`s secretary of state, has long been seen as the future leader of the National Party, controversial in an interview this week at Sky News (Sky News) over his repeated refusal to explicitly support Joyce.
McCormack did not rule out his participation in the leadership vote earlier this week when he said "this is a very hypothetical issue and we need to wait and see what happens in the future."
The third possible candidate, Grispe (David Gillespie), a 20-year-old gastroenterologist, was elected Lynn (Lyne) in 2013.
Grispe was appointed assistant minister of rural health in 2016, later assistant minister of health, and now assistant minister for children and the family.
Chester (Darren Chester), a former infrastructure minister, was returned to the backseat of Congress in December, unlikely to win the leadership vote.
Mackenzie (Bridget McKenzie), the deputy leader of the National Party, is a Victorian and senator, largely out of the question.
Joyce, on the other hand, refused to publicly support anyone. So everything will wait until next Monday morning`s meeting of the National Party.
