Kevin Rudd has replaced now-Former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, almost three years after getting thrown from his position by his former deputy in a government coup.
Rudd's recovered his post with a 57 to 45 vote, in a special caucus meeting that led Australia's first-ever female PM to quit politics for good.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, after Gillard and Rudd received word that the former PM had regained his position, Gillard congratulated the man she ousted as prime minister in 2009, then confirmed that she would not appeal to regain her Victorian Seat of Lalor in the upcoming election.
During a visit to Governor-General Quentin Bryce on Wednesday, she remained positive about the new developments.
"I will not re-contest the federal electorate," she said. "Three years ago I had the very great honor of being elected as Labor leader...this privilege was truly humbling."
Rudd's returned to his position as prime minister in what Reuters called a "last-ditch effort" to bolster support from the Labor Party, which is currently in power. Opinion polls show the Party is slated to go up against huge defeat during a vote in September.
Some analysts claimed that shifting around leader positions could be a dangerous move.
"I don't think it will help Labor," John Wanna, professor of politics at the Australian National University, told Reuters. "I think they've dug themselves a deeper grave."
But the politician's move back into the PM seat could also work well, as Rudd had sky-high popularity votes with the public. Those numbers stand in stark contrast to the low approval ratings Gillard received.
Still, Gillard remained positive about her move from the PM seat.
"What I am absolutely confident of is it will be easier for the next woman and the woman after that and the woman after that, and I'm proud of that," she said.
