Australian PM Kevin Rudd calls election for 7 September

[EC]

Via the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23565387

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has called an election for 7 September, six weeks after defeating former PM Julia Gillard in a Labor party vote.

The date was announced after he visited the governor-general, a formality preceding an election announcement.

The head of the centre-left party faces stiff competition from conservative opposition leader Tony Abbott, who is favourite to win.

The economy, asylum seekers and climate change are among the key issues.

"It's on. A few moments ago I saw the governor-general and asked that she dissolve this parliament and call the federal election for 7 September," Mr Rudd said in an email to Labor supporters.

Mr Rudd returned to lead Australia's government three years after he was toppled in a similar Labor leadership contest by Ms Gillard.

Since taking office on 26 June, Mr Rudd has changed several key policy positions and opinion polls suggest his party is narrowing the conservative opposition's lead.

[Oceander]

So is he calling the election because he thinks he can win, or because losing an early-called election is a graceful way to yield to what would have become an ugly certainty if he'd tried to overstay his welcome?

And where does the liberal party fit in this hoo-ha?

[EC]

He thinks he can win outright.

Our system - which the Aussies share - allows the PM to call an election at any time within the nominal 5 year span of parliament . There must be an election after 5 years, but it can be called earlier if the PM deems it so. Campaigning is limited to 6 weeks, no longer.