Despite the backstabbing that saw him both gain and lose the prime ministership, Malcolm Turnbull says it is too difficult to change leaders under the US system while praising US President Joe Biden for making the “brave decision” to step down.
“The problem with their system, as opposed to our Parliamentary system, is that it’s very hard to remove a leader when they’re in mid-stream, if you like, to change horses if they don’t want to be changed,” Turnbull said.
Then-vice president Joe Biden speaks at a press conference with then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.Credit: Wolter Peeters
“Our system is more flexible.”
“I’m both a beneficiary and a victim of that, of course,” Turnbull joked, “but I think it has its merit”.
“I imagine there will be a debate in the United States about setting an age limit. I mean, they have an age minimum for being a Senator or being President, so maybe there should be an age cap. I don’t know what it should be, maybe 75.”
Reflecting on Biden’s choice, Turnbull said “he’s made a really tough decision, a brave decision, but it’s definitely the right decision”.
“His biggest vulnerability was his age and perceptions that he, you know, was no longer up for the job. So he’s done the right thing in stepping back.”
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