Labor leader Anthony Albanese sworn in as Australia’s premier

ISTANBUL

Labor Party leader Anthony Albanese was sworn in as Australia’s new prime minister on Monday.

“I am deeply honored to serve as Australia’s prime minister,” Albanese, 59, said after the ceremony.

“As prime minister, I want to bring people together and lead a government that is as courageous, hardworking and caring as the Australian people … That work starts today,” he said on Twitter.

The Labor Party stormed to power in Australia after almost a decade in last week’s elections.

It has almost secured 78 of the 151 seats up for grabs, while Morrison’s Liberal/National Coalition won 51. A party needs 76 seats to form the government.

Besides, four of his party colleagues were sworn in as ministers, including Richard Marles, with employment portfolio; Penny Wong with Foreign Affairs Ministry portfolio, while Jim Chalmers was named the treasurer, and Katy Gallagher took oath with the Finance Ministry in hand.

Soon after, Albanese flew to Japan where he will join the US president and counterparts from Japan and India for an in-person Quad Leaders’ Summit.

Wong is accompanying him.

“I am honored to represent Australia at this important forum,” the prime minister said.

Before flying out, Albanese spoke to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

“We discussed our shared commitment to AUKUS and to acting on the challenge of climate change,” said the Australian premier, referring to a security pact among the US, UK, and Australia under which Canberra will get nuclear-armed submarines.