Great Britain: Test: Premier Truss faces Parliament

A day after her appointment as the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss is awaiting her first test in Parliament.

Great Britain: Test: Premier Truss faces Parliament

A day after her appointment as the new British Prime Minister, Liz Truss is awaiting her first test in Parliament. Boris Johnson's successor as head of government and party leader of the conservative Tories in London will answer questions from MPs on Wednesday afternoon.

It is expected that the 47-year-old will present a plan against the rapidly increasing energy costs. According to reports, she wants to freeze the prices for electricity and gas. The Prime Minister's Questions in Parliament traditionally take place on the Wednesday of each session week.

Fierce election campaign

Truss was tasked with forming a government by Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday, replacing Boris Johnson at Downing Street. After a sometimes bitter party campaign against ex-Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, she was only elected party leader the day before with a relatively narrow majority.

In view of the high inflation and a serious crisis in the healthcare system, Truss is already under pressure. The relationship with the EU is also significantly strained due to the dispute over the aftermath of Brexit and special rules for the British province of Northern Ireland. There are fears that the previous foreign minister could further escalate the dispute.

Truss announced her new cabinet on Tuesday evening. The previous Minister of Labor Therese Coffey, who is considered her closest ally, will take over the Ministry of Health and become Deputy Prime Minister, as Downing Street announced. As expected, the new head of government appointed the previous economics minister, Kwasi Kwarteng, to the important post of finance minister. James Cleverly, most recently head of the education department and before that Secretary of State for Europe under Truss, takes over the Foreign Ministry. Conservative hardliner Suella Braverman becomes Home Secretary. Secretary of State Jacob Rees-Mogg, who is seen as an opponent of green industries and an influential member of the very conservative wing of the Tory party, will become the new economy and climate protection minister.

Conversation with Zelenskyy

As one of her first official acts, the new Prime Minister - as announced during the election campaign - telephoned the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj. She reiterated her country's unwavering support for Ukraine, her office said afterwards. Truss stressed the importance of the UK and its allies working together on energy independence.

Truss reportedly accepted an invitation from Zelenskyj to visit Ukraine soon. Her predecessor Johnson had traveled to Kyiv three times since the Russian invasion began in February.

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