Premier Ralph Klein says he will resign in September to make way for a Conservative leadership vote and turn the job over to his successor by the end of the year.
After suffering a crippling blow from Conservative party members on the weekend, Klein said today he will continue as premier and Conservative party leader over the summer and an submit his resignation to the party sometime in September.
He will remain in office until his successor is chosen, probably in November or December, he added.
He acknowledged he is leaving earlier than he planned. But he said the party’s luke-warm show of support for him at the weekend convention in Calgary made it impossible to stay.
“Even though Albertans gave our government a majority mandate only 16 months ago, and a large percentage of Albertans continue to support me as premier, the political realities will make it increasingly difficult to do my job,” he told a packed news conference at the legislature. “They will only take away from what government is trying to achieve. I don’t think I can govern.”
“In the time between now and then, I will focus my efforts on continuing to build this province and leaving it in the best possible shape for our children and grandchildren,” he said. “Carrying out that vision is where my focus is going to be throughout the rest of my term."
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