7th Aussie politician leaves parliament as citizenship crisis worsens

Source: Xinhua| 2017-11-12 19:36:47|Editor: Lifang
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CANBERRA, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- John Alexander has become the seventh Australian politician to leave the nation's parliament on the grounds of being a dual citizen.

Alexander, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing Bennelong in Sydney for the governing Liberal National Party (LNP), on Saturday announced his resignation from parliament.

In another blow to the government of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Alexander conceded he is "most likely" dual-British citizen on account of his father being born in the United Kingdom.

Under Section 44 of the Australian Constitution, anyone who is a citizen of a country other than Australia is ineligible to serve in parliament.

The High Court in October disqualified five parliamentarians, including Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce, after it found they were in breach of Section 44.

A sixth, Senate President Stephen Parry, resigned after the High Court ruling after discovering he too is a British citizen.

Alexander said he would renounce his British citizenship immediately and contest the Bennelong by-election.

"I have always believed that I am Australian and solely Australian," Alexander told reporters on Saturday.

"In view of recent events and the High Court decision, in my position, I have had to thoroughly examine my situation.

"Given what I have learned about the Constitution and understanding now of the High Court decision just a couple of weeks ago, I can no longer, with sufficient certainty, maintain the belief that I have held through my 66 years.

"Australia is tired of this absurd situation."

Addressing the situation while at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Vietnam, Turnbull said Alexander had "done the right and honorable thing."

Turnbull plans to introduce laws that would force all 220 remaining parliamentarians to declare their citizenship status before the end of 2017.

Alexander's resignation has left the LNP with 74 seats in the lower house of Australian parliament, short of the 76 required to pass any bill through the house.

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