Rishi Sunak is the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Exactly seven weeks after his predecessor Liz Truss took office, the 42-year-old was inaugurated by King Charles III. tasked with forming a government at Buckingham Palace, the PA news agency reported after the audience.
Earlier, in an audience, Charles had formally removed Truss from office. Only the monarch has the right to appoint the premier. Sunak is the third prime minister in two months, the youngest prime minister in more than 200 years, and the first Hindu and first Indian politician to hold office.
Sunak's pre-predecessor was among the first to congratulate: Despite a difficult relationship between the two politicians, ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson congratulated the new head of government. "This is the moment for all Conservatives to give our whole hearted support to our new Prime Minister," Johnson wrote on Twitter. He described Sunak's assumption of office as a "historic day".
With his resignation as finance secretary from the Johnson cabinet in the summer, Sunak played a key role in bringing down the then prime minister. The relationship between the men was previously considered tense - since then it has been considered broken.
Sunak's first address to the nation lasts six minutes
After the audience with Charles, Sunak addressed the nation from Downing Street. The new prime minister promised to bring a deeply divided Britain back together. "I will unite our country, not with words but with deeds," he said in his first speech. He will work around the clock for this.
Sunak pointed out that during the corona pandemic, as finance minister, he secured numerous jobs and companies with the "Furloguh" program, which is similar to the German short-time work allowance. "I will bring the same passion to the challenges we face today."
After months of government chaos, Sunak announced that his government would show integrity, professionalism and responsibility. "Trust must be earned and I will earn your trust." He is ready to lead the country into the future and to put people's concerns ahead of politics. "Together we can achieve incredible things," Sunak said in his nearly six-minute speech.
EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen warned the new British Prime Minister to comply with the agreements made in view of the long-standing Brexit dispute between Brussels and London.
Sunak is considered a "steady hand"
Sunak's predecessor, Truss, announced her resignation on Thursday after just 44 days in office. With a radical tax reform, she triggered considerable turbulence on the financial markets. After harsh criticism, including from within her own ranks, she had to backtrack and quickly lost her authority.
Sunak, on the other hand, is considered a "steady hand". He had already applied to succeed Prime Minister Boris Johnson in the summer, but lost to Truss. He had sharply criticized their economic plans at the time - and was right.
Significant problems await the married father of two daughters. He needs to win back the confidence of the markets. Analysts trust him. It is likely to be more difficult to reunite his recently deeply divided Conservative Party. It is therefore eagerly awaited who Sunak will appoint to his cabinet. If he exchanges too many ministers, he could make new enemies.
The opposition criticizes that Sunak is the second conservative prime minister in a row who did not come into office with a parliamentary election and calls for new elections. Sunak refuses. The Tories claim that the party and not a politician got the mandate from the electorate. Polls see the Conservatives trailing far behind the largest opposition party, Labour.
