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Howard to fight for 5th term
31/07/2006 08:25 - (SA)
Sydney - Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Monday spurned a leadership challenge and announced he would lead his conservative Liberal Party into elections next year in a bid for a fifth term.
Howard, who turned 67 last week, told Liberal members of parliament of his decision in a letter on Monday and was expected to make the announcement publicly later in the day, MPs said.
The move will frustrate ambitious deputy party leader and Treasurer Peter Costello, 48, who sparked a row early in July by accusing Howard of reneging on an agreement to hand over the leadership after one-and-a-half terms in power.
Howard said in his letter, which was leaked to reporters by Liberal MPs, that he had advised Costello of his decision and wanted him to remain in his post as treasurer.
Internationally, Howard has made Australia one of the key regional allies of US President George W Bush, contributing troops to the US-led invasions of both Afghanistan and Iraq.
Current leadership team should remain in place
Domestically, he has presided over boom times for Australia, with vigorous economic growth, tax cuts and budget surpluses - although Costello frequently takes credit for this.
"My soundings tell me that the strong view of the party is that the current leadership team, with me as leader and Peter Costello as deputy leader, should remain in place through to the next election," Howard wrote.
"My purpose in writing is to inform you, in advance of a public announcement, that I will commit to leading the party to the next election.
"I remain enthusiastic and keen to ensure that the coalition achieves a fifth electoral victory. I spoke to Peter Costello to advise him of my feelings."
The next election would be difficult to win and the government needed the best people in the right places, he said.
"A crucial element of that is Peter Costello's contribution, not only as the deputy leader but also as treasurer."
Infighting could help Labor Party
Costello, who faces the choice of launching a disruptive fight for the party leadership or again swallowing his ambitions to remain as Howard's number two, was expected to respond later on Monday.
Howard gained power in 1996 and is only the second Australian prime minister to reach 10 years in office. Costello has been treasurer throughout that period.
But after Costello astonished the nation by his comments on the alleged leadership deal - in which he came close to calling Howard a liar - political analysts said the partnership had been irrevocably damaged.
They suggested the infighting within the government could help the anti-Iraq war opposition Labor Party make inroads into the coalition's 10-year grasp on power before the next elections, due by the end of 2007.
- SAPA
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