[Global Times Comprehensive Report] Australia has elected its first non-Anglo-Saxon prime minister in 121 years, Anthony Albanese.

The Australian Labor leader, who defeated Morrison's Liberal-National coalition in the 2022 federal parliamentary election on May 21, will be sworn in as the country's 31st prime minister today (23rd).

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation commented that after the challenges of the past few years such as the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the wildfires and floods of the century, the deterioration of relations with China, high inflation, and stagnant national income, the election was actually "targeted at Morrison, not against Morrison." In response to the vote for Albanese", there is a general desire among the people to "change due to setbacks".

On the 24th, the leaders of the four countries of the United States, Japan, Australia and India will hold the "Quarter Security Dialogue" (QUAD) face-to-face summit in Tokyo, which will be Albanese's diplomatic debut as prime minister.

People will pay close attention to whether the Australian Labor government under his leadership will have the courage to "reset" relations with China, which suffered severe setbacks in the Morrison era, or will it continue to be trapped in the role of the "deputy sheriff" in the Asia-Pacific region. Extricate yourself?

Albanese speaks to supporters at a Labour party event in Sydney, Australia, May 22, 2022.

French applaud Australia election result

　　According to The Australian, the latest vote count as of the evening of the 22nd showed that Labor had won 76 of the 151 seats in the House of Representatives, meeting the requirements for forming a separate cabinet.

In addition, the Liberal-National coalition holds 54 seats, the Greens get four, and the rest are held by smaller parties and independents.

At present, the ownership of 5 seats is still unclear, and it is necessary to wait for the results of the mail-in ballots.

　　Australian allies congratulated each other.

The White House website issued a press release on the 22nd that U.S. President Biden spoke with Albanese on the same day to reiterate his firm commitment to the U.S.-Australia alliance, and thanked Albanese for his commitment to the U.S.-Australia alliance during his campaign.

New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern, British Prime Minister Johnson, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of some Pacific island countries also expressed their congratulations at the first time.

According to the British "Guardian" report on the 22nd, Fiji Prime Minister Bainimarama congratulated Albanese, saying: "Among your many commitments to support the Pacific region, the most popular is the plan to put climate issues first. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare also sent a letter to Albanese expressing his "sincere congratulations" on his victory.

The Pacific nation's security deal with China was one of the main points of contention in Australia's election.

　　Just hours after Morrison conceded defeat, former French foreign minister Le Drian lashed out at Morrison.

According to the French "Le Figaro" report, Le Drian, who was holding a handover ceremony with the new French foreign minister at the time, said that "in France, people are also happy with the result", which caused laughter from the audience.

Le Drian also said what Morrison had done to France was "too rash and shameless" and that "it was a lack of competence".

Australia's "Brisbane Times" said on the 22nd that the French politician's remarks showed that after Australia's controversial termination of a $90 billion submarine contract with France, nerves between the two governments are still tense.

Le Drian also said on the 22nd that he hopes that in the future, France and Australia can re-establish a true and mutual trust relationship.

　　The "Canberra Times" said on the 22nd that the winner of the general election "doesn't have much time to celebrate", and the front is full of major events and "minefields".

Albanese and his core team members will be sworn in on the 23rd to attend the QUAD summit in Japan on the 24th, after Australian Governor Hurley completed the appointment process on Sunday, the report said.

Albanese told the media on the 22nd that participating in the QUAD summit "is an absolute priority for Australia".

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida congratulated Albanese on the 22nd and said he was looking forward to seeing him in Tokyo.

On the domestic front, in the face of huge fiscal deficits and high inflationary pressures, the new government is expected to release a budget in October this year and hold a summit on employment issues within 100 days of taking office.

At the same time, issues such as climate change, indigenous rights, post-pandemic reconstruction, and housing affordability are also pressing.

At the same time, the "Canberra Times" emphasized that the new government will also face the task of improving political relations with China, its largest trading partner.

It is no exaggeration to say that "the next government starts today".

File photo of Morrison.

Public opinion dumps Morrison

　　The French newspaper Le Figaro reported Morrison's defeat under the headline "In Australia, Opposition Labour ousts Conservatives".

"Everyone, from former French foreign minister Le Drian to supporters of tennis star Djokovic, welcomed Morrison's defeat to Albanese with ecstasy."

The ABC has described the Liberal-National coalition's defeat in this election as "devastated and shattered".

In the new distribution of parliamentary power, the Liberal Party-National Party alliance is at a clear disadvantage. The Liberal Party's "number two" and Finance Minister Frydenberg was unable to keep his parliamentary seat.

　　The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said on the 22nd that it was obvious from the general election that many voters did not like Morrison, and his "trustworthy family man image" has been eroded in the past three years.

He is always absent when natural disasters occur.

In the flood-stricken area, he did not provide aid first, but first told people that "the disaster area is resilient and will start over"; when the country was hit by summer forest fires and hundreds of families were forced to flee their homes, the media appeared. Photo of Morrison's vacation in Hawaii.

　　"The New York Times" said on the 22nd that Morrison found after four years in office that "it is not his potential, but his record" that judges himself, "the disgust of the incumbent has made voters give Labor a clear victory. ".

"They're still the same, the same way - we need a broom to get through," said Lunsford, a 74-year-old western Sydney voter. Blake, a retired chemical engineer, told The New York Times that Morrison "is like a Bad boyfriend - he said if you choose me again, I'll change".

　　Mandel, a 41-year-old Italian restaurant chef, told a New York Times reporter when he went to a polling station in Sydney's western suburbs to vote in the past. Wages haven't risen in years, and "the cost of living has gone up like crazy".

"You go shopping with $100 and you can only take a bag from the supermarket," said Mandel, who said he voted Labor this time.

The 51-year-old Chinese owner of a restaurant and a sporting goods store, surnamed Huang, said he had previously been a Liberal voter but "breaks" with the party this time, only because Australia's relations with China have deteriorated and his Business.

What is the future of Australia-China relations?

　　British "Dialogue" magazine said on the 21st that Albanese's administration means that Australia-China relations may improve.

The article said that some of the actions of the Morrison government are one of the reasons for the poor bilateral relations. In March this year, “after the Chinese air crash, the Australian government did not even issue a statement of condolences, which is regarded as the bottom of the Australia-China relationship.”

While "every other country" in the Asia-Pacific region is trying to maintain relations with Beijing in a more constructive manner, "Australia is missing an opportunity", the article said.

　　However, Bloomberg News said on the 22nd that the Labor Party led by Albanese has turned to take a tougher stance on China before the election.

"The Chinese Communist Party has changed, it's more forward-looking and tougher," he said at a campaign debate on May 8. "That means of course Australia has to respond."

　　Hong Kong's "South China Morning Post" said on the 22nd that in general, the new Australian government is expected to continue to take a tough stance on China. The Labor Party also said during the election campaign that there will be no major changes on issues such as the South China Sea and Taiwan. Albanese also Said that the "first pillar" of his foreign policy will be the alliance with the United States.

The report also quoted Zhou Fangyin, dean of the School of International Relations at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, as saying that the new government may not be as tough on China as its predecessor, because it needs to stimulate the economy: "If Albanese is smart enough, it will try to reduce its stance on China as much as possible. China's provocation."

　　Zhou Fangyin told the Global Times reporter on the 22nd that the Labor Party's rise to power provides at least an opportunity to improve China-Australia relations, because it does not need to maintain the so-called "continuity of its China policy".

There is no principled and structural contradiction between China and Australia. The so-called "problems" often have American factors behind them.

There is nothing on the Chinese side that can "threaten" Australia.

Zhou Fangyin said that our influence on the Pacific island countries is indeed increasing, which makes Australia "uncomfortable", but this is because it has always felt that "South Pacific is its own sphere of influence", and those island countries do not recognize this.

　　The Times of India said on the 22nd that an Indian source who used to be a diplomat in Australia said that the easing of relations between Australia and China cannot be ruled out, which is "one thing that India and QUAD need to be vigilant about."

He said while at the QUAD summit, Albanese was expected to reiterate Australia's commitment to QUAD, "Labour has historically been soft on China".

It will be recalled that in 2018, the Labor government of Victoria, Australia, signed a memorandum of understanding with China to join the "Belt and Road" cooperation, which was eventually repealed by the Morrison government.

　　[Global Times correspondent in Australia Daqiao Global Times correspondent in France Liu Lingling Global Times reporter Zhang Tingge has a heavy responsibility]