UNITED KINGDOM – Boris Johnson bowed out before the British Parliament during his last question and answer session as Prime Minister on Wednesday July 20, during which he defended his record before ending with a few words of humor.
“Mission largely accomplished”, assured the Prime Minister, looking back on his three years in power, saying that he would spend the next few weeks “doing what I think the public expects me to do: moving forward on the files on which we were elected in 2019″.
“Hasta la vista, baby!”
“These past few years have been the greatest privilege of my life,” added the 58-year-old prime minister, who resigned on July 7 after a series of scandals and lies. “Hasta la vista, baby” he concluded to the applause of the deputies of his camp, taking up the famous quote from Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Terminator 2”.
He also gave advice for whoever will succeed him: “Stay close to Americans, support Ukrainians, fight for freedom and democracy everywhere. Lower taxes and deregulate where you can to make this country the best place to live and invest.”
If Boris Johnson was given a standing ovation by the vast majority of Tories, not everyone would have joined in this tribute. As spotted by several British media, her predecessor Theresa May would not have clapped her hands in her honor.
Tory MPs vote for a fifth and final time on Wednesday to designate the two finalist candidates. They are three still in the running: former finance minister Rishi Sunak, the head of diplomacy Liz Truss and the secretary of state for international trade Penny Mordaunt. It will then be up to the 200,000 party members to decide between them in a postal vote. The result is to be announced on September 5, the end of the parliamentary recess which begins on Friday.