Tony Abbott, a former prime minister, may be making a significant comeback to politics with a potential candidacy for NSW Liberal party leader.
According to The Australian, Mr. Abbott has “floated the notion” of challenging Philip Ruddock for the post with some of his closest allies.
‘Well-placed sources,’ according to the article, verified Mr. Abbott’s plan to run.
Since 2018, Philip Ruddock has served as both the mayor of Hornsby and the president of the NSW Liberal Party.
He is allegedly “weighing his options” while nominations are still being accepted.
Mr. Abbott has not formally nominated himself or officially declared his intention to run.
Both males are thought to be cordial and close to one another.
When the Abbott government took office in 2013, Mr. Ruddock was appointed chief government whip, and they both worked together in federal politics.
After the former leader of the country survived a leadership challenge in the beginning of 2015, he was dismissed from that office and succeeded by Queensland MP Scott Buchholz.
The resignation of Mr. Ruddock was attributed by liberal lawmakers and journalists to Mr. Abbott being unhappy with his handling of the tensions leading up to the spill motion.
However, Julie Bishop and Mr. Abbott, along with other former Liberal lawmakers, denied this claim.
According to the former prime minister, Mr. Ruddock felt compelled to build “deeper and greater participation in the backbench.”
At the time, he also called Mr. Ruddock a “friend,” “worker,” and “supporter.”
When questioned by The Australian about Mr. Abbott’s potential plan to run for NSW Liberal Party president, both men declined to comment.
The deadline for nominations for the position is July 23.