Australia’s Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Michael McCormack reacts as he walks to a meeting of the country’s National Party in Canberra, Australia, February 26, 2018. AAP/via REUTERS
February 25, 2018
By Colin Packham
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Michael McCormack was on Monday elected Australia’s new deputy prime minister after being selected as the leader of the country’s National Party, the junior partner in the country’s coalition government.
McCormack replaces former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce who was forced to resign last week amid public anger over an extramarital affair with his former press secretary with whom he is now expecting a child.
The leader of the National Party automatically becomes deputy prime minister under the terms of the coalition agreement with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Liberal party.
“I will honour the faith and trust and responsibility by always doing my best,” McCormack told reporters in Canberra.
The appointment of McCormack will ease pressure on the government that was left reeling after revelations of Joyce’s affair, a scandal that threatened to fracture the government.
Turnbull called Joyce’s affair a “shocking error of judgment”, to which Joyce responded by calling Turnbull “inept”.
Although offering some respite to Turnbull, McCormack is little known around the country, weakening the government’s re-election prospects.
Turnbull must head back to the polls by May 2019.
(Reporting by Colin Packham, editing by David Evans)
