Ousted Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he'll seek another parliamentary term in this year's elections — creating a potential rallying point for conservative lawmakers in the ruling Liberal Party and a headache for his successor, Malcolm Turnbull.
"I have been heartened by the support and encouragement I've received to continue to serve the country as a member of parliament," Abbott said in a statement on his website. He'll again contest the Sydney-based seat of Warringah, which he has held for 22 years.
While Abbott's two-year tenure as prime minister was blighted by party infighting and poor decision-making, he remains a figurehead in its conservative wing and could prove a lightning rod for any future internal dissent against Turnbull. That could eventually undermine the leader's authority, according to political analyst Haydon Manning.