Oct. 3 () –
A petition calling for an “immediate” general election in the UK has surpassed 400,000 signatures, far more than the 100,000 needed to be considered for debate in Parliament.
The growing number of signatures, which accumulates some 4,000 new signers every hour, reflects the tension in society, which regrets the management of the economy by the Government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, reports the Bloomberg agency.
“The chaos in which the UK government is plunged is unprecedented,” reads the petition, which was launched ahead of budgets announced in late September by newly finance minister Kwasi Kwarteng. In these weeks, the country has seen the pound sterling plummet to a record low and the Bank of England has intervened to prevent pension funds from becoming insolvent.
“Let the people decide who leads us in this mess,” the petition reads.
Parliament has not set a date for this debate. At this time, there are more than a dozen applications –14– awaiting parliamentary debate. However, this petition is by far the one with the most signatories.
For its part, the Truss government has responded that “the United Kingdom is a parliamentary democracy, not a presidential one.” In this sense, the Executive has argued that the 2019 general elections justify its continuation in power because “there is a majority (of the Conservative Party) in the House of Commons”.
“A change of leader of the ruling party does not trigger a general election, this situation has also been experienced under governments of successive political colors,” the Cabinet response indicates.
In addition, they have reiterated the priorities of the Prime Minister. “(Truss) is determined to address the challenges facing the country and ensure opportunity and prosperity for all people and future generations,” she recalls, citing Truss’ September 6 speech.
