Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, who was involved in several leadership coups while in politics, says it’s too difficult to switch political leaders in the US, and the country might consider putting age limits on presidential candidates.
“The problem with their system, as opposed to our parliamentary system, is that it’s very hard to remove a leader when they’re … midstream, if you like, to change horses if they don’t want to be changed,” Turnbull told the ABC this morning.
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull says age was a problem for Biden.Credit: Louie Douvis.
“Our system is more flexible. I’m both a beneficiary and a victim of that, of course. But I think it has its merits.”
Turnbull said he imagined there would be a debate in the US about setting an age limit for presidential candidates, after 81-year-old Joe Biden stood down against 78-year-old Donald Trump.
“They have an age minimum for being a senator or being a president. So, maybe there should be an age cap. I don’t know what it should be, maybe 75,” he said.
“There’s no question, Joe Biden’s had three big problems. Number one, his age. And number two, the border, the perception that America is unable to control its southern border. And number three, inflation.”
Turnbull said the party with the most energised base would have an advantage this election.
“Young people were not inspired by Joe Biden; hardly surprising, he’s older than most of their grandparents I suspect.”
He said US Vice President Kamala Harris would give the Democrats a better chance of winning, but Donald Trump remained the favourite.
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