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Australia Votes Out Scott Morrison, Labor Party's Anthony Albanese To be Next PM

Parties need to win at least 76 seats to secure a majority, and the Labor has so far secured 72.

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Australians voted out Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government on Saturday, 21 May, putting an end to the country's 10-year conservative rule, news agency AFP reported.

The key issue of this election was climate change.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese is likely to be the next prime minister of Australia, with his party all set to win more seats than Morrison's.

Conceding defeat, Morrison said, "Tonight I have spoken to the leader of the opposition and the incoming prime minister, Anthony Albanese, and I have congratulated him on his election victory."

However, as votes are still being counted, it is unclear if the Labor Party will need allies to form the next government.

Parties need to win at least 76 seats to secure a majority, and the Labor has so far secured 72.

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Albanese Vows to End Australia’s "Climate Wars"

According to the Australia’s Election Commission, more than seven million people had cast their votes. It is mandatory to vote in Australia, and if one doesn’t vote, a fine of around 80 Australian dollars (or US $14) is imposed.

The incoming PM, Albanese, who was chosen as the leader of the Labor Party in 2019, had maintained a lead over Morrison in the pre-election opinion polls, even two weeks before general election.

Albanese has vowed to end Australia's "climate wars," as the country is ravaged by climate change-induced wildfires, droughts, and floods.

He has also announced adopting more ambitious emissions targets as well as to introduce a federal corruption watchdog, which were also the demands made my so-called “teals,” highly qualified women who ran on pro-environment, anti-corruption and pro-gender equality tickets, AFP reported.

"We'll be a good government, we're ready, we're ready to govern," Albanese added.

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PM Modi Congratulates the Leader on His Victory

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to congratulate the leader on his and the Labor party's victory.

"I look forward to working towards further strengthening our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and for shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific region," he wrote.

Australia’s High Commissioner to India Barry O Farrell responded to PM Modi's tweet, describing Prime Minister-elect Albanese's visits to India in 1991 and 2018. During the campaign, the leader "committed to deepen economic, strategic and people-to-people links," he wrote, using hashtags of 'democracy' and 'dosti (friendship)'.

While the to-be PM, in a tweet, thanked the Australian citizens and said that they have "voted for change".

Albanese to Meet PM Modi, Prez Biden, and Japanese PM Kishida

PM-Elect Albanese will also be meeting with PM Modi, United States President Joe Biden, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, AFP reported.

"It enables us to send a message to the world that there is a change of government. There will be some changes in policy, particularly with regard to climate change, and our engagement with the world on these issues," he informed reporters after the win on Saturday.

Anthony Albanese is all set to become Australia's 31st prime minister on Monday, while the Labor Party will form government for the first time after 2013.

(With inputs from AFP.)

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