After a sometimes messy election campaign to succeed outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Tory faction has nominated Rishi Sunak and Elizabeth Truss for the final round over the summer, in which British Conservative members have the floor.

Truss got 113 votes in the fifth round, Sunak 137. UK Secretary of State for Trade Policy Penny Mordaunt got 105 votes.

The result of the runoff election is to be announced on September 5th.

Then the new party leader moves into the seat of government on Downing Street and takes over government business from Johnson.

Admittedly, moving into Downing Street will soon be just a step away.

But a victory should only briefly overshadow the problems that come with "Number 10".

Outgoing Prime Minister Johnson, meanwhile, said goodbye with a loud performance at his last Question Time in Parliament.

"We have rebuilt our democracy and restored our independence," Johnson said on Wednesday, referring to his political legacy with Brexit.

He ended with a quote from the Terminator film series: "Hasta la vista, Baby" (Spanish: goodbye, baby), before being greeted with thunderous applause from his fellow party members.

It was unclear whether he wanted to use the film quote to indicate a possible return to politics.

The prime minister had previously given his successor some advice: "Stick close to the Americans, stand up for the Ukrainians, uphold democracy and freedom everywhere, lower taxes and deregulate where you can." can (...)", said the conservative politician.

Johnson's predecessor Theresa May did not join the applause for the prime minister. She stood with her arms crossed between the cheering Tory MPs.

The party's concerns weigh heavily

Above all, the pressure from skyrocketing inflation is immense.

At 9.4 percent, the rate of inflation is at its highest level in 40 years, and another significant increase in heating costs is expected for autumn.

The future cabinet will not have time to familiarize itself, especially since no more decisions are currently being made.

In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, Britain is being run by a "zombie government," lamented Labor Party opposition leader Angela Rayner.

The party's concerns weigh even heavier.

Many members still regard the populist character Johnson as the only politician who can lead the Tories to election victories.

More than 2,000 members criticized in a petition that the faction made a mistake when they saw off Johnson, who was only elected by the base in 2019.

The demand: The 58-year-old must also appear on the ballot paper in the runoff.

The rules of the party exclude that.

Image of the Tories hit the wall

But in the eyes of most Britons, the outgoing prime minister has smashed the Tories' image.

Many party members also accuse Johnson of undermining trust in the Tories with his constant lies and false promises.

In polls, the largest opposition party, Labor, is in the lead, and even in their strongholds, the Conservatives have recently suffered serious bankruptcies.

In the election campaign to succeed Johnson, the party also tore itself apart in an unprecedented way.

The TV debates of the applicants showed how bad the cohesion is.

The candidates criticized each other so sharply that the round planned for Tuesday evening was canceled for fear of new rifts.

For example, those close to Johnson, who is said to favor Secretary Truss, accuse ex-Treasury Secretary Sunak of treason.

The 42-year-old had been preparing his candidacy for months and then initiated Johnson's downfall with his resignation.

Again and again Sunak's prosperity causes criticism.

The once successful banker and husband of an Indian billionaire's daughter has no idea how normal people are doing.

"Even (opposition leader) Sir Keir Starmer (...) cannot fail against a prime minister whose energy bill for his pool alone could heat three ordinary houses," columnist Allison Pearson sneered in the conservative Telegraph newspaper.

Trade Undersecretary Mordaunt has long been considered the darling of the party's grass roots.

But a constant stream of accusations, especially from the right-wing camp around Truss, has undermined her position.

The vehement Brexit supporter is far too liberal, for example in questions of gender politics.

The 49-year-old shoots back sharply.

On Wednesday, Mordaunt quickly deleted a tweet spreading Pearson's column: "Tory MPs - vote for Rishi Sunak or Liz Truss today and you're murdering the party you love."

Secretary of State Truss poses as the reincarnation of the "Iron Lady" Margaret Thatcher.

But critics not only accuse the less than charismatic 46-year-old of not having a clue about the content and instead relying on self-portrayal through recreated Thatcher photos.

It should also be their team that drives the most violent attacks.

Prominent Mordaunt supporter David Davis called it the "dirtiest campaign I've ever seen."

Whoever moves into Downing Street has to sweep up a lot of broken pieces.