Michael Kroger resigns as Victorian Liberal president

Besieged Liberal Party president Michael Kroger has fallen on his sword after a disastrous state election campaign and will resign from his position.

Besieged Liberal Party president Michael Kroger has fallen on his sword after a disastrous state election­ ­campaign.

Mr Kroger, who rose to the position of president for the second time in 2015, told State Assembly he would be stepping down from the role.

The outspoken Liberal, who has continued to offer commentary on politics in roles on Sky News since being elected to the position, has been a ­polarising figure.

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He drew widespread condemnation for taking the party’s biggest donor, the Cormack Foundation, to court over funds he said belonged to the Liberal Party.

That protracted battle, which eventually failed, was blamed for sucking money out of the state election campaign.

The Victorian Liberals suffered a massive swing against it on Saturday, with a statewide primary vote of just 30 per cent against the Labor vote of ­almost 43 per cent.

The Coalition looks set to lose up to a dozen seats as a ­result, including that of new leadership prospect John ­Pesutto in the blue-riband seat of Hawthorn.

Michael Kroger has resigned as Victorian Liberal Party president. Picture: David Caird

In an email to members, Mr Kroger said he had initially thought it appropriate to ­remain president to ensure a sense of stability in the lead-up to the federal election.

“However, upon reading various newspaper articles today, I think that when your own supporters are basically telling you it is time to go, then it is probably time to go,” he wrote. “At the very least it will allow an interim president roughly six months to continue preparations for the forthcoming federal election.”

Mr Kroger recommended a special meeting be held on Tuesday, December 11, to elect a replacement.

“Many things have happened during my presidency about which I am unhappy, but this is the nature of politics,” he wrote.

“Ultimately, however, the buck stops at the top.

“The Victorian division needs unity, strength and a ­renewed sense of purpose and given the public bloodletting since last Saturday I think it is better that the party move ­forward now rather than ­wait until the end of March.”

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