Tony Abbott to become new Liberal party president in former PM's return to political frontlines

Guardian Australia · Dan Jervis-Bardy, Ben Doherty and Benita Kolovos · Friday 22 May 2026

Tony Abbott to become new Liberal party president in former PM's return to political frontlines

Tony Abbott will be elected unopposed as federal Liberal president after Alexander Downer withdrew to contest a vice-presidency instead.

Abbott returns to the Liberal Party the way arsonists return to admire their handiwork — Downer stepped aside for the presidency and took a vice-presidency instead, which tells you everything about the bench. The party that sacked him is now putting him in charge of the furniture. Menzies built a broad church; this mob's handing the keys to the bloke who burnt down the last one.

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