A premiere for both: the new king received the new prime minister at Buckingham Palace.
(Photo: AP)
London Rishi Sunak is the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Exactly seven weeks after his predecessor Liz Truss took office, the 42-year-old was inaugurated by King Charles III. tasked with forming a government at Buckingham Palace. Earlier, in an audience, Charles had formally removed Truss from office. Only the monarch has the right to appoint the premier.
Then, in his first address to the nation, Sunak accused his predecessor Liz Truss of making mistakes and promised his country to solve the current problems. “Mistakes have been made,” said the newly appointed Prime Minister at Downing Street.
He wants to repair the damage, Sunak said. He promised his country more stability in a “serious economic crisis”. However, “difficult decisions” would have to be made for this, said the 42-year-old.
He wants to reunite the deeply divided Great Britain. “I will unite our country, not with words but with deeds,” Sunak said. He will work around the clock for this. The new prime minister pointed out that he had secured numerous jobs and companies during the corona pandemic as finance minister with the “Furloguh” program, which is similar to the German short-time work allowance. “I will bring the same passion to the challenges we face today.”
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After months of government chaos, Sunak announced that his government would show integrity, professionalism and responsibility. “Trust must be earned, and I will earn your trust.”
Rishi Sunak addressing the nation.
(Photo: Getty Images)
Sunak is the third prime minister in two months, the youngest prime minister in more than 200 years, and the first Hindu and first Indian politician to hold office. An official photo shows the monarch shaking hands with the new head of government.
Sunak was elected the new leader by his Conservative Party on Monday, and thus also the future prime minister. Apart from him, no other MP had reached the required number of at least 100 supporters in the Tory group.
>> Read also: Rishi Sunak – He is popular in the markets but distrusted by the people
Truss announced her resignation last Thursday after just 44 days in office. With a radical tax reform, she triggered considerable turbulence on the financial markets. After harsh criticism, including from within her own ranks, she had to backtrack and quickly lost her authority. Sunak, on the other hand, is considered a “steady hand”. He had already applied to succeed Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the summer, but lost to Truss. He had sharply criticized their economic plans at the time – and was right.
Sunak faces great challenges
Considerable problems await the married father of two daughters. He needs to win back the confidence of the markets. Analysts trust him. It is likely to be more difficult to reunite his recently deeply divided Conservative Party. It is therefore eagerly awaited who Sunak will appoint to his cabinet. If he exchanges too many ministers, he could make new enemies.
The opposition criticizes that Sunak is the second conservative prime minister in a row who did not come into office with a parliamentary election and calls for new elections. Sunak refuses. The Tories claim that the party and not a politician got the mandate from the electorate. Polls see the Conservatives trailing far behind the largest opposition party, Labour.
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