He became the third Prime Minister in two months, in a country plagued by unprecedented instability and a deep social crisis. After his victory in the British Conservative Party, Rishi Sunak met this Tuesday morning King Charles III, who officially appointed him head of government.
It is the first time that Charles III appoints a head of government. The current Downing Street tenant, Liz Truss, was received by Elizabeth II on September 6 during an audience at the Scottish castle of Balmoral. The 96-year-old sovereign died two days later.
“Trust is earned and I will earn yours,” assured the new Prime Minister in front of the steps of 10 Downing Street, also promising that his government will “demonstrate integrity”. Rishi Sunak also pledges to fix the “mistakes” made under Liz Truss and warns of “difficult decisions ahead”. “I will place economic stability and confidence at the heart of this government’s program. This means that difficult decisions will have to be made. »
Congratulations from Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron
Liz Truss, who resigned after just 44 days in office on Thursday, made her final speech outside 10 Downing Street around 10.15am and then traveled to Buckingham Palace to tender her resignation to the King. She wished “all the successes” in the world to her successor “for the good of our country”. Then, in a plea for boldness in power, she quoted the Roman philosopher Seneca. “It’s not because things are difficult that we don’t dare, it’s because we don’t dare that they are difficult. Rishi Sunak was then received in audience by the king.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated him on Twitter. “Congratulations to Rishi Sunak on this historic day, this is the moment for every conservative to give our new Prime Minister their full and complete support,” wrote the former leader, known to have had strained relations with Sunak.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, presented him on the same social network with his congratulations, assuring that “together, [ils] will continue to work to face the challenges of the moment, including the war in Ukraine and its multiple consequences for Europe and for the world. »
Former banker and Minister of Finance, Rishi Sunak becomes, at 42, the youngest head of government in the contemporary history of the United Kingdom after a meteoric rise in politics. He is also the first of Indian origin and the first from a former British colony.
After his victory within his formation on Monday, he promised “stability and unity”. “Bringing the party and the country together will be my top priority,” he said in a brief address. “The UK is a great country, but there is no doubt that we face a profound economic challenge.”
First disagreement with Russia
Rishi Sunak becomes the head of government of a country facing a serious economic and social crisis. Inflation exceeds 10%, the highest in the G7, a forum bringing together seven of the most industrialized countries. Energy prices are soaring, as are food prices. The risk of recession hovers. He will also have to calm the markets, shaken by the Truss government’s budget announcements at the end of September, all of which have since been canceled in disaster.
Rishi Sunak comes to power in a period of unprecedented instability: he is the fifth British Prime Minister since 2016, when the country chose in a referendum to leave the European Union. He is the third head of government in two months.
Added to these difficulties is the war in Ukraine. Rishi Sunak has already expressed, in his first words as head of government, his desire to see the Ukrainians win. Describing the conflict as a “terrible war”, he asserts that it “must end with a success” for kyiv. Earlier in the day, Russia already expressed its skepticism about Sunak’s takeover. “Right now, we see no premise, no foundation and we have no hope for positive change. (Editor’s note: with the United Kingdom) in the near future,” said Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for the Kremlin, the Russian presidency.
Conversely, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the new British head of government.
Domestically, the Ukrainian head of state wishes him “to overcome all the challenges facing British society and the whole world”. Internationally, he says he is “ready to continue strengthening the Ukrainian-British strategic partnership”.