Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called a federal election for May 21 on Sunday, embarking on a battle to hold on to power after a term marked by a succession of natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic.
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The 17 million Australian voters are called to the polls, like every three years, to designate their federal parliament.
The leader of the winning party will be designated Prime Minister.
“
This election is about you and no one else.
This is about our country and its future
,” said the Conservative leader, who has been lagging in the polls so far.
“
I know Australians have been through a very difficult time.
I also know that Australia will continue to face very difficult challenges in the years to come
,” he told a press conference.
Most polls are currently predicting a defeat for the National Liberal Party, in power for nearly a decade, and a victory for the Labor Party led by Anthony Albanese.
Despite unemployment at a 13-year low and the economy rebounding, Scott Morrison has come under fire for his handling of massive wildfires and floods in recent years, and for the slow vaccination campaign against Covid.