Matthew Guy has resigned as Victorian Liberal leader following the party’s thumping loss in the state election.
After three days of silence, Mr Guy released a statement to the media on Wednesday, but a press conference has not been called.
“Now that the parliamentary party has been called together, they will elect a new leadership team. I will not be a candidate for the position of leader,” Mr Guy said.
The two likely leadership contenders are shadow treasurer Michael O’Brien and shadow attorney-general John Pesutto.
However, whether Mr Pesutto even wins back his seat of Hawthorn is still to be confirmed.
As of 7.30pm on Tuesday, he held the seat by just 235 votes.
Mr Guy congratulated re-elected Premier Daniel Andrews for Saturday’s win and thanked his MPs for their work in the past four years.
“They were the most unified team of any parliamentary party in Australia,” he said.
“I also want to thank and acknowledge the work of so many Liberal candidates, the state secretariat and my own personal staff. They have given up so much and worked so hard.”
The statement was released as Mr Andrews was starting a media conference with the state’s parliamentary press gallery.
The Premier wished Mr Guy well for the future.
“I say to him that I’ve been an opposition leader and I know that’s not an easy job,” he told reporters.
“It’s tough on families, it isn’t easy and I genuinely wish him all the very best.”
Labor smashed the opposition and Greens at the weekend, taking seats off the parties and making previously safe seats marginal.
Labor currently holds 52 seats, the Liberal-Nationals coalition has 24, there are three between the Greens and independents, while nine seats remain in doubt.