Obama congratulates Australian Prime Minister

by pankaj kumar | September 7, 2010 at 07:00 pm

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Incumbent Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard Tuesday won the support of two independent MPs to reach the halfway mark in parliament and return to form a minority government, ending a 17-day political uncertainty in the country.

The independent MPs' support gives Gillard, the country's first woman prime minister, the narrowest of margins in the 150-member House of Representatives, bringing to 76 the number of parliamentarians willing to support Labor. The opposition Coalition led by Tony Abbott has 73 seats.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Tuesday offered his congratulations to Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who held onto office after breaking a 17-day logjam that built up behind the inconclusive August 21 parliamentary elections.

In a telephone call, Obama expressed his commitment to the alliance between the U.S. and Australia and the two leaders agreed to work closely on security and economic issues in the Asia-Pacific and around the world, the White House said in a statement.

“The president looks forward to working with Prime Minister Gillard at the (Group of 20) G20 and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summits in November, and is confident that the U.S.-Australian alliance will only grow stronger in the years ahead,” the White House said.

Two independents backed Labour, giving it the 76 seats needed to command a majority in the 150-member assembly and claim a second term on Tuesday. After 17 days of bargaining, they decided the goodies Labour promised for their electorates were better than those on offer from Tony Abbott’s conservatives.