Rudd manages to oust woman who replaced him as Aussies’ leader

CANBERRA, Australia — Kevin Rudd has been sworn in as Australian prime minister, three years and three days after he was ousted from the same job in an internal government showdown.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce commissioned Rudd within half an hour of parliament resuming today for what is likely to be its last day before elections.

Rudd faces a potential no-confidence vote in the parliament, which he probably would survive. But a loss could trigger an election as early as Aug. 3.

Julia Gillard resigned as prime minister Wednesday night after losing a ballot of ruling lawmakers to Rudd 57 votes to 45. Gillard had set Sept. 14 as the date for upcoming elections. But Rudd has given no indication of whether he would stick with that timetable.

Wednesday’s leadership ballot was forced by government lawmakers hoping to avoid a huge defeat in the upcoming vote. Gillard lacked Rudd’s charisma, and although many Labor lawmakers preferred her style, her deepening unpopularity among voters compelled a majority to seek a change ahead of looming elections.

Labor depends on independents and a minor party for its fragile ruling coalition, but Rudd appeared capable of keeping it after two independent lawmakers who did not back Gillard’s government said they would support his.

“In 2007, the Australian people elected me to be their prime minister, and that is a task I resume today with humility, with honor and with an important sense of energy and purpose,” Rudd said.

Polls suggest that Labor still could be defeated by the conservation opposition led by Tony Abbott. But if that happens, Labor lawmakers hope their losses will be smaller under Rudd than they would have been under Gillard.

A Mandarin-speaking former Beijing diplomat turned state government bureaucrat, Rudd has a nerdy style that endeared him to voters. But colleagues complained he was chaotic, bad-tempered and vicious.

Gillard proved calmer, more efficient and more popular with lawmakers, but she generated animosity among voters, partly because she had ousted the prime minister they had elected during his first three-year term.