The United Kingdom has named Liz Truss as the new Prime Minister, replacing Boris Johnson.
Truss, who served as the foreign secretary, was chosen by Britain’s Conservative Party.
She will be the UK’s third female prime minister and the fourth leader of the party’s government since 2015.
The announcement came Monday after Truss defeated rival Rishi Sunak, the government’s former Treasury chief.
According to the Associated Press, Truss received 81,326 votes to Sunak’s 60,399.
A leadership election was conducted in which only 180,000 dues-paying members of the Conservative Party were allowed to vote, reported Fox News.
Boris Johnson had announced his resignation on July 7.
After ignoring calls to resign for several days, Johnson decided to step down, saying “it is clearly now the will of the parliamentary Conservative Party that there should be a new leader and a new prime minister”.
Johnson was heavily criticized for several controversies including the “Partygate” scandal during the pandemic lockdown, a cost-of-living crisis, and his handling of sexual misconduct claims against a political appointee.
After the announcement, Truss tweeted “Thank you for putting your trust in me to lead and deliver for our great country.”
“I will take bold action to get all of us through these tough times, grow our economy, and unleash the United Kingdom’s potential,” she added.
She also paid tribute to “my friend” Johnson, saying, “You were admired from Kyiv to Carlisle.”
Many people are unhappy with Truss’s victory, fearing her connection with Johnson.
“She’s basically been elected as Boris Johnson 2.0 by Conservative members — she’s made it very clear that she is a loyal Boris Johnson supporter,” said Steven Fielding, a UK political history professor.
“I think she’s going to find it very difficult to disentangle herself from the whole Johnson shadow,” he added.
Johnson congratulated Truss on “her decisive win.” “I know she has the right plan to tackle the cost of living crisis, unite our party and continue the great work of uniting and leveling up our country.”
The former prime minister will meet with Queen Elizabeth II to officially tender his resignation. The Queen is set to formally name Truss as Britain’s prime minister on Tuesday.
