Australia
Former Victorian premier Jacinta Allan to retire from politics
Former Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has announced she will not contest the upcoming state election in November.
Former Victorian premier Jacinta Allan has announced she will retire from state politics, confirming she will not contest the upcoming election in November. The announcement comes just over a fortnight after she stepped down from the leadership of the Victorian Labor Party, marking a rapid exit from the state's highest office.
According to reporting by wire services, the former premier's decision to withdraw from the upcoming legislative assembly race concludes her long career in the Victorian parliament. Her departure from the Labor leadership earlier this month had already initiated a transition within the government, but her complete exit from parliamentary politics represents a highly significant shift for the state Labor Party ahead of the poll.
At this stage, very little has been confirmed regarding the precise timeline of her transition out of her local electorate, or what her immediate post-political career plans will entail. Members of her local branch and the broader Labor organisation have not yet detailed when the preselection process to find a replacement candidate will officially begin.
Ms Allan was a prominent figure in the Victorian cabinet for many years before eventually ascending to the premiership. Throughout her lengthy tenure in parliament, she was heavily involved in the planning and execution of the state's major infrastructure projects, making her one of the most recognisable political figures in Victoria. Her absence from the ballot paper in November is expected to alter the campaign dynamics in her local electorate.
Observers will now watch how the Victorian Labor Party manages the preselection process for her vacant seat and whether her departure impacts the government's wider electoral prospects in November.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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