Labor Party’s coalition finally victorious in Australia

More than two weeks after voters went to the polls, a centre-left coalition has announced it will form a government.

In Australia’s most closely contested election since 1940, a centre-left coalition led by incumbent Prime Minister Julia Gillard has finally emerged as the winner. Two weeks of backroom political negotiations followed the August 21 election which left both Tony Abbot’s conservative coalition and Gillard’s alliance with 73 seats. Today Gillard successfully wooed two independent lawmakers to her side, which means she will lead a minority government for a three-year term. Gillard was elected the country’s first female prime minister in 2007, and will now head Australia’s first minority parliament in 70 years.