Liz Truss was officially elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on Monday, and will therefore succeed Boris Johnson. Chosen for the frank positions of lowering taxes and an anti-European Union position, this election did not fail to make international leaders react.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen: “The EU and the UK are partners. We face many challenges together, from climate change to the war in Ukraine. I hope for a fruitful relationship with full respect for our agreements,” he wrote on Twitter.
Congratulations @trussliz.
The EU and the UK are partners.We face many challenges together, from climate change to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
I look forward to a constructive relationship, in full respect of our agreements.
—Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) September 5, 2022
Congratulations from Modi
The new Prime Minister is the architect of the law aimed at overriding the agreement signed by London with Brussels in Northern Ireland, at the risk of starting a trade war with the Europeans. The European Commission has already launched seven infringement procedures against the United Kingdom, which may lead to referral to European justice, due to non-compliance with the provisions of this text.
On the German side, the message is more positive: Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that he looks forward to working “in these difficult times” with Liz Truss, specifying: “The United Kingdom and Germany will continue to work together, as partners and as friends.”
Congratulations on your new role, @trussliz! I look forward to our cooperation in these challenging times. The UK and Germany will continue to work together – as partners and friends.
– Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) September 5, 2022
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, also welcomed this election. Also on Twitter, he said he was “confident that under your leadership, the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and the UK will be further strengthened. I wish you the best for your new role and your new responsibilities”.
Her predecessor, Boris Johnson, expressed confidence in Liz Truss’s ability to lead the country: “She has the right plan to tackle the cost of living crisis, unite our party and continue to bring together work and leveling our country” and called on the Conservatives to “support it 100%”. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon promised “as good a working relationship with him as I’ve had in the last 15”, despite “political differences” that are “deepening”. He called for “freezing of energy bills for individuals and businesses, providing additional monetary support and increasing funding for public services”.
Congratulations to Liz Truss. Our political differences are deep, but I will seek to build a good working relationship with him as I did last 3 PM.
He must freeze energy bills for people and businesses, provide more cash support, and increase funding for public services.– Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) September 5, 2022
Leaders of persuasion
If the first salvo of reactions is more positive, the new Prime Minister has a lot to do in terms of international politics, he with a more aggressive speech: “We will continue more and faster to expel Russia in any Ukraine. ,” he said in April, also calling China a “growing bad influence.” He also did not fail, during his campaign, to react by refusing to say whether the French president was “friend or enemy”.