News Desk
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and four other politicians have been disqualified from office by the country’s high court for holding dual citizenship.
Australia’s constitution says that legislators must have only Australian nationality.
Though he was born in New South Wales, Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce also held New Zealand nationality when he was elected. He got New Zealand citizenship because his father was born in New Zealand and immigrated to Australia in 1947, say reports.
Joyce said he respects the courts verdict and he apologized to his voters. In a statement, he said, “I had no reason to believe I was a citizen of any other country but Australia.’’
Joyce’s ouster reduces Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s government to a minority.
