opinion
British Prime Minister
Only his party can bring down Boris Johnson – out of sheer selfishness
Will “the greased piglet” (“Daily Mail”) also survive this scandal? British Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
© Daniel Leal / AFP
The scandals during Boris Johnson’s tenure are so numerous that he is unlikely to be in office for a long time. But he survived the most recent crisis for the time being – until his party finally moved away from him out of its own will to survive.
Scandals, lies, a vote of no confidence and now resigned ministers. Boris Johnson is at the end again. But one already suspects that at the very end he could be back where he is now: in the office of British Prime Minister.
It is basically obvious that the 58-year-old Conservative has no place at the head of the government. Only those who think it is a special quality for heads of government to dodge all scandals should be satisfied with this prime minister. It’s not for nothing that the Daily Mail called Johnson a “greased piglet”; one that floods everywhere. Traditionally, the paper is actually on Johnson’s side.
Boris Johnson: Ex-ministers call him incompetent and dubious
Now one can argue excellently about all the Johnsons of this world. But the real question is: Why are these guys actually allowed to do their thing? Why is Johnson allowed to dance on the nose of the British, who actually behaves like a (albeit elected) feudal ruler? From someone who has been accused of incompetence and a lack of seriousness by his resigning ministers?
A few years ago, when Donald Trump was constantly producing new scandals and excitement and, as US President, egocentrically shaken the world order, Americans were also asked this question. Not least because this man claimed he could shoot someone in the street and still be elected. After all, Trump has been voted out in the meantime, but he seems to have the best chance of re-election – even though it is becoming increasingly clear that he actually had a coup d’etat in mind on January 6, 2021; undermining US democracy. Why isn’t someone like that sent to hell?
Ministers resign more out of self-preservation
This is not least due to the will to power of those ministers and parties who support you like Boris Johnson or Donald Trump, but who also owe them access to power. US Republicans are currently willing to almost completely deny themselves for a return to the White House. And the British Tories have repeatedly let Boris Johnson get away with his misconduct.
But the pitcher only goes to the well until it breaks. The fact that prominent ministers and other government officials are fleeing now that Johnson is faltering for the umpteenth time will at best be in part due to the scandals. First and foremost, those who resigned apparently remorsefully are concerned with maintaining their own power, and for one or the other perhaps even preserving their own chances at 10 Downing Street. Ultimately, Johnson’s power is interdependent. The party supports and protects him, but when it can no longer do so, they will ultimately ruthlessly drop him.
Should the last of the Tory backbenchers selfishly back away from their prime minister, it could actually spell the end for Boris Johnson. If not, he’ll end up back where he is now: in the office of British Prime Minister. It would be a disgrace to British democracy.