If all goes according to plan, the UK will have a new Prime Minister in a week or less. Following the resignation of British Prime Minister Liz Truss on Thursday, just 44 days after taking office, a blitzkrieg begins to replace her. The Conservative Party must name a new leader for the movement, who will then become Prime Minister.
No candidate has yet officially entered the race, but potential contenders include former finance minister Rishi Sunak, current minister in charge of relations with Parliament Penny Mordaunt… and even former prime minister Boris Johnson, who is reportedly is returning just over three months after being pressured into resigning following a series of scandals.
An accelerated process
In order for a new Prime Minister to be appointed on Friday, October 28, the Conservative Party, which has been in power for twelve years, has launched an accelerated process.
Contenders must have the backing of at least 100 Conservative MPs before 2pm on Monday (1pm GMT). A threshold that thus limits the number of candidates to a maximum of three, with the party having 357 deputies in the House of Commons. From there, several options are possible:
• Only one person manages to collect 100 sponsorships: they are automatically declared the winner on Monday, October 24. However, it may be subject to a ratification vote by party members.
• Two people have these sponsorships: the party’s 170,000 members must decide among themselves in an online vote before October 28.
• Three people are appointed: Conservative MPs must vote to retain just two.
The two candidates will also have to participate in a televised debate, so that “the deputies can hear what the two finalist candidates have to say,” the 1922 Committee, responsible within the party for organizing these elections, announced Thursday.
Criteria for voting and standing
To have a valid candidacy, you must be a member of the Conservative Party. The party won the 2019 general election, securing a majority of MPs in the House of Commons and the chance to choose the prime minister. Like the other members of the government, the Prime Minister must also be a deputy.
To vote, you must have been a member of the Conservative Party for at least three months before next week’s election. During the member vote that led to the election of Liz Truss with over 57% of the votes, the participation rate reached 82%.
After the series of controversies that have affected conservative leaders in recent months, from Liz Truss to Boris Johnson, some, such as the leader of the opposition party, the Labor Party, which appears as the favorite in the polls, call for the organization of new elections generals. elections.
“The British public deserves to have a say in the future of the country,” said Keir Starmer in a release released Thursday.
British MPs are elected for up to five years, so the next general election is scheduled for January 2025. However, Parliament can be dissolved by the Prime Minister, resulting in a general election. These can also be called if the House of Commons votes in favor (two-thirds of the members must vote in favour), or if the government fails to win the House’s confidence in a vote. Given that the Conservative Party has a majority of MPs, these scenarios remain unlikely.
Source: BFM TV
