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Howard for fifth term

P. S. Suryanarayana

SINGAPORE: Australian Prime Minister John Howard on Monday declared he would seek a fifth successive term at the helm. He announced his decision to contest the next general election, expected in 2007, by remaining as the leader of the Liberal Party in the ruling coalition. The Liberal Party's Deputy leader and Australia's Treasurer Peter Costello, who in recent weeks had demanded that Mr. Howard retire, accepted his move and pledged to work for his re-election as Prime Minister. Mr. Howard, whose first term as Prime Minister began in 1996, said he had now made up his mind on the basis of an "overwhelming view" within the party that it should continue to be led by "the best people in the right places." This translated into a preference for the status quo at the helm, he emphasised. And, the Prime Minister's version was not challenged by any Liberal Party activists, including those Mr. Costello had counted upon when he sought to unseat Mr. Howard. At the other end of the political spectrum, the Opposition Labour indicated its readiness to take on Mr. Howard in the poll arena.

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