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Former Austrlian PM's support of New Zealander as new UN chief causes rift within Liberal Party

Xinhua, February 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

A promise by former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott to vote for former New Zealand PM Helen Clark as the next United Nations secretary-general has led to rising tensions within the Liberal Party.

Others in the party, including Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop, are inclined to support Australia's former Labor PM Kevin Rudd, for the UN's top job.

Letters exchanged in mid-2014, published on Monday by The Australian newspaper, detail then-PM Tony Abbott's commitment to New Zealand leader John Key that the two countries would work together to help put former New Zealand PM Clark in the UN top job.

The revelation came days after Bishop told reporters that Malcolm Turnbull's coalition government would consider supporting Rudd if he is nominated for the job, and that Australia had made no firm commitment to any other candidate, including Clark.

However, Abbott's commitment to support Clark has come as a shock to Bishop, who first learned of the promise on Sunday night.

Bishop was reportedly astonished that Abbott would make a binding commitment with Key without first consulting her.

The controversy has bought about rising tensions in the Liberal Party with Abbott supporters within the party accusing Bishop of manoeuvring the Turnbull government to support Rudd despite Abbott's commitment.

Bishop made it clear though that any decision on who Australia will support will be made by the federal cabinet.

In the letters obtained by The Australian, Abbott tells Key that he was "pleased to offer Australia's support" and that he saw Clark's candidacy as "a historic opportunity" to install a woman as the UN secretary-general.

Current Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will step down on Dec. 31, 2016 after ten years in the post, with his replacement to assume office on Jan. 1, 2017. Enditem