After days of scandals and a flurry of resignations from his own government, Boris Johnson has had to back down.
Around 1pm, in a speech to the nation, he formally announced his step back as leader of the British Conservative Party , a majority force in Parliament. His days as prime minister are therefore numbered.
However, Bo-Jo intends to remain head of government until the election of a successor at the helm of the Tories scheduled for October , given the time limits imposed by the summer parliamentary withdrawal that begins in two weeks.
But it is not certain that the conservatives themselves will not decide to speed things up .
THE SPEECH - "I am immensely proud", said Johnson in front of the 10 Downing Street, in front of the mobile podium, in front of him many reporters and photographers crowded together, next to his wife Carrie with her daughter and staff members in her arms.
" I'm leaving but I didn't want to ," he added thanking the British people and recalling the consensus received in the 2019 elections with the largest majority assigned to the Conservative Party under its leadership since 1987 and the largest percentage of votes since 1978. colossal mandate in his words, which prompted him - he justified himself - to try to remain prime minister until the very end, considering it "an obligation" .
Among his claimed merits in the three years of government are those of having brought Brexit to completion , of having brought the country out of Covid restrictions as the first in Europe, of having brought home a year of economic growth and the absolute record of employment in the Kingdom.
However, he admitted that the Conservative Party majority now wants another leader and that the process to elect him will begin tomorrow. Some, he added, will be "happy" with his farewell. Indeed, a first small crowd of activists and opponents celebrated the announcement of his resignation with shouts and slogans near Whitehall .
(Unioneonline / D)