Boris Johnson becomes the new owner of No. 10 Downing Street. Photo: Getty

"Famous" politician

On July 24, Boris Johnson officially took office as British Prime Minister, replacing Theresa May. This was not beyond the expectations of observers and the British people since the race for the position of British Prime Minister began. Boris Johnson was noticed not because he was the most promising candidate, the one who could help Britain escape the deadlock caused by Brexit, but because he was a rather "famous" figure.

Boris Johnson’s popularity stems from his unique way of “coloring” his personal image. The international media is no stranger to the image of a politician with unkempt blond hair, Mr. Johnson’s sloppy dress style, and especially his controversial actions and statements, which have been the subject of heated discussion among observers for many years.

When he was Mayor of London or British Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson made many "slip of the tongue" statements that even affected international diplomatic relations. He once compared the European Union (EU) to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, saying that the EU was planning to establish a dominant nation, like Hitler's ambition in the past. He said that table tennis originated on the British dining table, while in fact this is a sport invented by the Chinese, or once called US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton "a cruel nurse in a mental hospital"....

Boris Johnson and his rival Jeremy Hunt shake hands after the vote count was announced on July 23. Photo: EPA

In the UK, Mr. Johnson is also a politician who stands out for his consistent, hard-line stance on Brexit. Since the Brexit movement began to take shape, Mr. Johnson, then Mayor of London, has been very active in traveling around the country to reassure voters about the benefits of Brexit.

As a supporter of Britain leaving the EU, Mr. Johnson has strongly declared a future of “leaving” even without any agreement. That means, if the two sides still do not reach a binding economic or political agreement by the deadline, the UK will still leave decisively in a “no-deal” manner.

For Brexit supporters, Mr. Johnson's clear and decisive stance was warmly welcomed, with some even comparing him to former Prime Minister Winston Churchill - a British hero. This helped Mr. Johnson easily receive the majority of votes from Conservative Party members - who share Mr. Johnson's hardline Brexit views.

In short, the differences in a politician’s personality, actions and words are the advantages that Mr. Johnson has. In some ways, the rise of Boris Johnson is similar to the case of US President Donald Trump in the 2016 election.

Will the optimism last?

Boris Johnson himself, when entering the race to become Prime Minister, was determined to appear as a real leader who changes the game, not a lovable but unreliable "clown". But the reality is certainly not easy for a leader who likes to "break the framework". The proof is that although he became the new owner of No. 10 Downing Street, the opposition to Mr. Johnson has increased day by day. A series of ministers and officials in the government announced their resignations as soon as Mr. Johnson became Prime Minister, which is an illustration of this opposition.

Finance Minister Philip Hammond announced that he will resign in protest against new Prime Minister Boris Johnson's "hard Brexit" policy. Photo: AP.

Currently, the Conservative Party group opposing Mr. Johnson in the British Parliament is 42 people, still showing a very tough attitude towards Mr. Johnson and ready to trigger a vote of no confidence in Mr. Johnson's government if he does not give up the intention of a no-deal Brexit. If he cannot "appease" this group, Mr. Johnson will not have a strong enough majority in Parliament and it will be very difficult for him to run the government.

The second issue, which both the Conservatives and the opposition Labour Party will be watching closely, is how Mr Johnson forms a cabinet and who he appoints to key ministerial positions. This is of particular interest not only because of its importance but also because of the personal aspect of Mr Johnson, as his opponents, especially the opposition Labour Party, have long attacked Mr Johnson for his personal leadership style.

Boris Johnson's "bizarre" act of hanging from a zip line to cheer on the 2012 London Olympics. Photo: Barcroft Media

In addition, the giant “rock” for Mr. Johnson when sitting on the Prime Minister’s chair is nothing other than solving the “exit” of the UK. How to make a difference, how to break the deadlock and resolve Brexit smoothly are still open questions. Although he has always shown a very tough attitude about Brexit, up to now, this attitude of Mr. Boris Johnson has not been accompanied by any really clear and specific plans other than the slogan “Brexit or die”. It is not clear whether Mr. Johnson will decide to continue negotiating with the EU on Brexit, convince the Parliament to pass an old agreement or “give up” and wait until October 31 to “leave”, but any choice will have risks.

In case Mr. Johnson's calculations do not go as expected, the confrontation and political deadlock between the British government and the House of Commons over Brexit continues, and there are no concessions from the EU, the new Prime Minister will be forced to hold an early election. At that time, it is difficult to predict whether the UK will give him the opportunity as the Conservative Party just did.

Hundreds of people gathered in Glasgow city centre on the evening of July 23 to protest against Boris Johnson's victory. Photo: The National

In other words, the election of a new leader for the UK has come to an end, but it is not a miracle solution that can immediately help the UK escape the most complicated political situation since World War II. A new phase of the UK has just begun. But with Boris Johnson's controversial personality and style, plus his somewhat extreme and ambiguous views on Brexit, the UK political scene in the coming days will have more potential for conflict than before, especially when Brexit has reached a stage where it is difficult to delay further and all parties need to make a decisive decision.

And of course there will be no political “honeymoon” for Mr. Johnson, but on the contrary, a thorny “battlefield”./.