Leaders around the world have called Prime Minister-elect Anthony Albanese to congratulate him on his historic election win.
The first congratulations came from Papua New Guinea.
“The first person to call me was my friend [PNG Prime Minister] James Marape,” Albanese said yesterday.
“He called me at about [a] quarter to eight, I think. I told him it was a bit early to call it, at that time,” Albanese said.
The New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxton said: “New Zealand has no better friend and no greater ally than Australia. I look forward to continuing our work together.”
“Congratulations, dear Prime Minister @AlboMP, on your re-election. In the face of global challenges, Australia and France have so much to achieve together — especially in the Indo-Pacific. Let us continue to write, with ambition and friendship, the new chapter of our partnership,” French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X.
American President Donald Trump said today: “Albanese, I’m very friendly with. I don’t know anything about the election other than the man that won, he’s very good,” Trump said.
“I can only say that he’s been very, very nice to me, very respectful to me.
“I have no idea who the other person is that ran against him, and you know [Albanese and I] have had a very good relationship,” US President Trump said.
Former US president Joe Biden warmly congratulated a man he described as a friend.
“America and Australia have a vibrant alliance anchored in shared values and I know that Anthony will continue to stand for them,” he said on X.
“The UK and Australia are as close as ever — and we will continue to work together to deliver a brighter future for working people in both of our countries,” UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said via X.
Newly-elected Canadian PM, Mark Carney, in a landslide just like Australia, said: “Australia and Canada were close partners in “an increasingly divided world.”
“We have the opportunity to build on that relationship and our shared values to the benefit of both our nations, and I look forward to it,” the newly-elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said.
Ukraine’s leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Albanese had a “confident electoral victory.”
“Ukraine sincerely values Australia’s unwavering support and its principled stance on ending Russia’s war and securing a dignified and lasting peace. We look forward to further strengthening our productive partnership in pursuit of peace, security, and freedom,” Zelenskyy said.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto expressed his “heartfelt congratulations”.
“His renewed mandate reflects the trust and confidence of the Australian people in his vision for the country’s future,” Subianto said on X.
Former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said he was glad his friend retained the top job.
“After Canada and Australia, Trump’s embrace is confirmed as the kiss of death,” he said on X.
“And it only takes a hundred days to overturn the polls. The more (Italian PM Giorgia) Meloni is with Trump, the more the (far right) are at risk in Italy too.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Albanese’s “resounding victory”.
“This emphatic mandate indicates the enduring faith of the Australian people in your leadership,” he said.
European Union President Ursula von der Leyen congratulated Albanese, saying: “Europeans and Australians are not just friends – we’re mates,” she posted on X.
“Let us seize this moment of stability to deepen our cooperation.”
For our international readers, the Australian Labor Party is considered the party of the centre-left or the “left wing party” They sit on the political spectrum similar to Canada’s Liberal Party, the US Democrats and the United Kingdom’s Labour Party.
Australia’s Liberal Party is the conservative “right wing” party, which is the equivalent of US Republicans, UK Tories and Canada’s Conservative Party.
- With SBS News, La Trobe University and wires.
