LONDON, Dec 13: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservative Party secured a majority in a landslide election victory, results showed on Friday.
Following is reaction from leaders around the world:
U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
Trump said Johnson’s win meant Britain and the United States would be free to strike a “massive” new trade deal after Brexit.
“This deal has the potential to be far bigger and more lucrative than any deal that could be made with the EU. Celebrate Boris,” Trump tweeted.
EUROPEAN COUNCIL PRESIDENT CHARLES MICHEL
UK's Johnson calls on G7 to vaccinate world by end of 2022
Michel said the EU was ready to negotiate a free-trade agreement with Britain but called on London to work in good faith. He said the EU hoped for a quick British parliamentary vote on withdrawal from the block.
“We expect, as soon as possible, a vote by the British parliament ... It’s important to have clarity,” he said.
GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL
“Congratulations, Boris Johnson, on your resounding victory. I look forward to working with you for the friendship and strong cooperation between our nations,” her spokesman tweeted.
CZECH PRIME MINISTER ANDREJ BABIS
Babis tweeted: “He is a charismatic leader, we share the same kind of thinking. He received strong mandate to deliver Brexit. I’m sorry that Czech Republic loses strong ally in the EU.”
SPAIN’S ACTING PRIME MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ
Sanchez tweeted: “We will continue to work for an orderly #Brexit that guarantees the rights and freedoms of citizens and provides certainty to economic sectors. We are committed to the closest possible future relationship between the EU and the United Kingdom.”
RUSSIA’S KREMLIN SPOKESMAN DMITRY PESKOV
“Of course we hope every time that political forces that win elections in any country share the ideology of and aim to build good relations with our country. I don’t know how appropriate such hopes are in the case of the Conservatives,” Peskov told reporters.
ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER ISRAEL KATZ
Johnson’s election win is a “victory of values” over anti-Semitism.
Britain’s opposition Labour Party has been accused of allowing prejudice against Jews to exist within its ranks.
CATALAN HEAD OF GOVERNMENT QUIM TORRA
Separatist leader Torra congratulated the nationalists on their victory in Scotland after Scottish National Party leader Nicola Sturgeon said it must be allowed to hold another independence referendum.
“Congratulations to the friends of @theSNP and First Minister @NicolaSturgeon for this magnificent result that demonstrates the democratic will for independence and the European commitment of the Scottish people,” he tweeted.
