Labor Party celebrates: The Trump effect: Election debacle for Australia’s conservative

In Australia, the Social Democratic Laboratory Party of Premier Anthony Albanese has further expanded its historical election victory. The day after the vote, not all votes were still counted – but it is already clear that Labor has clearly exceeded the absolute majority of 76 votes in the 150 -member lower house. Most recently, the party ruled with such a big lead 80 years ago, reported the Australian broadcaster ABC.

The conservative coalition of liberal and national, on the other hand, experienced a crashing defeat and drove one of the worst results in its history: According to various calculations, it has so far hardly been on 40 seats. Other small parties and independent candidates received about a dozen mandates by Sunday afternoon (local time).

Dutton loses party chairmanship

Albanese’s challenger Peter Dutton (54) even surprisingly lost his own mandate in Dickson in Queensland, which he has been holding for more than 20 years. In the country, speculation has already broken about who will succeed the Liberal Party as party leader.

Australian media went hard with the loser. “Dutton’s defeat in his own constituency Dickson was symbolic of a disastrous night for his coalition,” commented 9News. Dutton had hoped to write a chapter history. “In the end he remained a footnote.”

Albanese – called “Albo” for short – has now been the first head of government for more than 20 years to take a second term. “Thank you, Australia,” wrote the 62-year-old on the X.

Australia decided to optimism and determination at a time of global uncertainty, he had emphasized on Saturday evening in his acclaimed victory speech. On Sunday he was celebrated by supporters in his constituency in Sydney.

Compare with choice in Canada

In comments, Australian media made comparisons to the election outcome in Canada, where the conservatives had made a defeat a few days ago for similar reasons as in Australia. Dutton, who had still led in polls until February, had been too much proximity to the policy of US President Donald Trump in the election campaign – as well as the head of the Canadian conservative, Pierre Poilievre. This had also lost his own parliamentary seat.

“The parallels between the two countries, both close allies of the United States, are unmistakable,” wrote the newspaper “Sydney Morning Herald”. “Trump’s radicals and frightening return to office in many ways has breathed new life into the center-left parties and developed into a explosive charge for conservative politicians.”

Dutton emphasized that he took full responsibility for the election debacle. “We didn’t do a good election campaign, this is obvious tonight,” he said before disappointed party members.

The broadcaster ABC also complained about the “chaotic election campaign” of the conservatives. Dutton had focused on national security, defense and border protection for too long. “This may have blindly made him blind to deal with economic policy seriously.” Because the central topic for the population was the high cost of living and the lack of affordable living space in this election.

The crowds in the polling stations were large all day long on Saturday, with an obligation to vote in Australia. Some of them went straight from the beach into swimming trunks – in a typical loose “Aussie” manner.

To strengthen a “Democracy Sausage”

In front of many polling stations, people were able to fortify themselves with a democracy sausage after voting. “Democracy Sausages” have a long tradition in Down Under elections and are a kind of national symbol, such as Koalas or Sydney’s opera house. It is a bratwurst in the roll, optionally with onions and ketchup. The proceeds go to charity.

Tradition is now popular far beyond the borders of Down Under – even in ice -cold realms: At the Australian research station Casey Station in Antarctica, there should be democracy sausages for the telephone lump of voting by telephone.