The British defense minister is excluded from the succession of Boris Johnson

British Defense Minister Ben Wallace, considered one of the favorites to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister, was excluded this Saturday from the race for the leadership of the Conservative Party. “After careful consideration and discussion with colleagues and family members, I made the decision not to participate in the contest for the leadership of the Conservative Party. I am very grateful to all my fellow parliamentarians and members at large who have pledged their support.”

Wallace confessed that “it was not an easy choice,” but stressed that he was focused on the current job of “keeping this great country safe.”

“I wish all the candidates the best of luck and I hope that we will soon return to focusing on the issues for which we were all elected,” he concluded, without indicating which one he would support.

The succession of Boris Johnson, who resigned on Thursday but remains in office on an interim basis, will be decided in internal elections whose calendar will be announced next week and the process is expected to last until September.

The will to continue, the strength of the “herd” and the “best job in the world”. Boris Johnson’s resignation speech

The election takes place in two phases, beginning with a series of votes limited to the parliamentary group to reduce the candidates to two finalists, whose winner is chosen in a second phase. by the universe of almost 200,000 members of the Party.

How the “brilliant and Darwinian” system that will choose Boris Johnson’s successor works, and who could lead the Conservatives

While applications have not yet been opened, former Finance Minister Rishi Sunak, MP Tom Tugendhat and Attorney General Suella Braverman have already confirmed their intention to go ahead.