Australian Deputy Prime Minister loses job

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce was wrongly elected because he holds dual citizenship, the High Court of Australia has ruled.

The court also made similar rulings against four other politicians, the BBC reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Joyce's forced resignation has cost the ruling government its majority.

Australian Deputy Prime Minister loses job over dual citizenship. Photo: EPA

Australia's constitution bars dual citizens from holding public office. In August, Barnaby Joyce renounced his New Zealand citizenship and announced he would seek re-election to the House of Representatives if he was found ineligible.

Mr. Joyce asserted that he had always been an Australian citizen because he was born in Tamworth, New South Wales, in 1947.

Previously, the New Zealand government acknowledged that Mr. Barnaby Joyce was recognized as a citizen of this country because his father was of New Zealand origin.

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