Dramatic Johnson steals the show from Truss

Created: 06/09/2022, 16:00

The previous British Prime Minister said goodbye with a dramatic performance.

© Alberto Pezzali/AP/dpa

In his farewell speech, Johnson vented his anger at being forced to resign - and compared himself to a Roman ruler.

Is he aiming for a comeback?

LONDON - With a deliberately dramatic performance, self-proclaimed "launcher" Boris Johnson stole the show from Britain's new Prime Minister, Liz Truss.

The previous head of government promised his successor "nothing but energetic support" on her first day in office - however, the 58-year-old clearly vented his anger at the forced exit and left room for speculation about a comeback.

For the former Foreign Secretary, the most important job in the United Kingdom is becoming a mammoth task: Rapidly rising energy costs, her Conservative Party divided, the health care crisis and the Russian war against Ukraine are just the biggest challenges the 47-year-old is facing.

She was named Britain's 56th Prime Minister by Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

"The Queen has received an audience with the Honorable Elizabeth Truss and asked her to form a new government," the palace said.

For his future role, Johnson used an odd-sounding analogy.

"Let me say that I am now like one of those launch vehicles that has done its job and gently reenters the atmosphere and sinks invisibly somewhere in a distant part of the Pacific," he said in his farewell speech at the famous black door in of Downing Street.

His wife Carrie and numerous employees, members of parliament and confidants listened to the address to the nation and applauded enthusiastically.

After 1,140 days in office, Johnson was upset about his cabinet's forced departure: "You changed the rules halfway." In addition, the studied historian compared himself to a Roman ruler: "Like Cincinnatus, I'm returning to my field." Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus (519-430 BC) had returned to work in the fields after a successful battle - but took over sole rule again when asked to do so.

Johnson was forced to resign after numerous scandals, but remains popular with the party base.

He continues to sit in Parliament as a regular member.

Limiting his influence is considered one of the most important tasks of his successor.

dpa