On Monday, Australia's ruling conservative Liberal Party is voting on a challenge to Prime Minister Tony Abbott's leadership from former party leader Malcolm Turnbull (pictured), who resigned as communications minister to mount a bid to unseat Abbott. If the 101 Liberal lawmakers vote in favor of Turnbull, he will automatically become not just party leader but also prime minister. "I will be a candidate and I expect to win," Abbott told reporters on Monday.
Analysts aren't so sure. Abbott led the Liberal Party to victory in 2013, but his popularity has steadily declined since then, and most recent polls suggest a Labor Party victory in national elections next year. "It is clear that the people have made up their mind about Mr. Abbott's leadership," said Turnbull, a social moderate and policy centrist popular with swing voters but not with the party's conservative wing. "Now if we continue with Mr. Abbott as prime minister, it is clear what will happen, he will cease to be prime minister and will be succeeded by [Labor leader Bill] Shorten."
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