Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull stubbornly clung to power on Thursday, as senior ministers deserted him, saying he would hold a second leadership vote on Friday if he received a letter signed by the majority of the ruling Liberal party. Turnbull narrowly won a leadership vote on Tuesday against former home affairs minister Peter Dutton. Dutton and senior ministers on Thursday called for a second ballot. Turnbull said if he received the letter requesting a fresh vote, he would call a party meeting for midday on Friday (0200 GMT). If a leadership spill motion was then passed, he would not stand in the vote. "If the motion is carried, I will treat that as a vote of no confidence and I will not stand as a candidate in the ballot," Turnbull told reporters in Canberra. Three senior Cabinet ministers told Australia's prime minister he has lost his government's support and must hold an internal ballot to elect a new leader quickly, in a major blow to Turnbull chances of surviving his current political crisis. Australia's Finance Minister Mathias Cormann (L), Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (C) and Treasurer Scott Morrison attend a press conference after the embattled leader narrowly survived a move to unseat him on Tuesday Credit: MARK GRAHAM/AFP The trio of Mathias Cormann, Michaelia Cash and Mitch Fifield made their positions public on Thursday, the day former minister Peter Dutton wants lawmakers in the ruling conservative Liberal Party to elect a new prime minister. Cormann, the finance minister, had publicly stated his support for Turnbull on Wednesday, but on Thursday said Dutton should lead the government. "I was wanting to continue to support Malcolm Turnbull for years to come as leader of the Liberal Party. But I can't ignore reality," Cormann told reporters. "When I have five Cabinet colleagues telling me that they supported Malcolm on Tuesday ... but they have changed their position, that is not something that I can ignore," he added. Dutton wants the new vote on Thursday before Parliament takes a two-week break. The next scheduled party meeting is September 11. Turnbull did not immediately make a public response. Profile | Malcolm Turnbull No Australian prime minister has lasted a full three-year term since Prime Minister John Howard lost power in 2007 after more than 11 years in office. They have all been thrown out of power by their own parties amid poor opinion polling in a trend of political instability that divides parties and angers voters.
