David Littleproud, the party’s current deputy leader and recently ousted agriculture minister, announced Saturday night that he will challenge Joyce on Monday.
“This afternoon I informed Barnaby Joyce of my intention to run for the national leadership,” Littleproud said in a statement.
David Littleproud, right, will challenge Barnaby Joyce at the Nationals party hall meeting on Monday. (Alex Ellinghausen)
“I also took the opportunity to thank our party for all the service.
“I think this is the right time to introduce myself to my party room as a leader.
“Ultimately, this is a decision on who will lead The Nationals in the 2025 election.”
Littleproud is the second Nationals MP to announce a challenge against Joyce since last week’s federal election.
Barnaby Joyce faces several challenges as the leader of the Nationals. (Alex Ellinghausen) Victoria Darren Chester, the former Veterans Affairs Minister who was sacked by Joyce last year, said yesterday that he will be appointed to the leadership, arguing that nationals should “take over some responsibility for the liberal losses in the city “during the election.
While nationals retained all 16 lower house seats in Saturday’s federal election, the Liberal Party lost many previously safe constituencies in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, and many fell into the hands of independent “green green “.
When politicians facing the public get ugly
Some Liberals have blamed Joyce’s criticism of the Coalition’s goal of zero carbon emissions as damaging its chances in city and suburban seats.
Former party leader Michael McCormack is also believed to be considering running for Joyce, while Anne Webster has confirmed she will run as a Member of Parliament.
All national leadership positions are automatically seen after an election. The party hall will vote on who will take office at a meeting on Monday.