Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wins second 3-year term

Anthony Albanese claimed victory as the first Australian prime minister to clinch a second consecutive term in 21 years on Saturday and suggested his government had increased its majority by not modeling itself on U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.“Australians have chosen to face global challenges the Australian way, looking after each other while building for the future,” Albanese told supporters in a victory speech in Sydney.“We do not need to beg or borrow or copy from anywhere else.We do not seek our inspiration overseas.

We find it right here in our values and in our people,” he added.His center-left Labor Party had branded Albanese’s rival Peter Dutton, the opposition leader, “DOGE-y Dutton” and accused his conservative Liberal Party of mimicking Trump and his Department of Government Efficiency.Dutton had earlier conceded his alliance of conservative parties had been defeated at the election and that he had lost his own parliamentary seat that he had held for 24 years.Dutton’s plight parallels that of Canada’s last opposition leader, Pierre Poilievre, who lost his seat after Trump declared economic war on the U.S.neighbor to the north.

Poilievre had previously been regarded as a shoo-in to become Canada’s next prime minister and shepherd his Conservative Party back into power for the first time in a decade.Analysts argue that mirroring Trump switched from a political positive for Australian conservatives to a negative after Trump imposed global tariffs.Trumpet of Patriots, a minor party inspired by Trump policies with an advertising budget funded by mining magnate Clive Palmer that eclipses the major parties, attracted only 2% of the vote.U.S.Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated Albanese on his election to a second three-year term.“Australia is a valued ally, partner, and friend of the United States.

Our shared values and democratic traditions provide the bedrock for an enduring alliance and for the deep t...