Australia’s Covid-Zero Strongman Predicted to Win State Election

  • Center-left Labor predicted to win over 45 seats in Victoria
  • Premier Andrews oversaw one of the world’s longest lockdowns

Daniel Andrews celebrates in his seat of Mulgrave on Nov. 26.

Photographer: Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images

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One of the biggest advocates of Australia’s Covid lockdowns is set to be re-elected in the state of Victoria on Saturday, a vindication for the center-left Labor Party after a term dominated by controversy over its handling of the pandemic.

As of 9 p.m. Saturday local time, Premier Daniel Andrews’s party was projected to win more than 45 seats in the parliament of Australia’s second-largest state, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, giving him a governing majority for the next four years.