CANBERRA, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Australia's deputy prime minister (PM) has declared he is not going anywhere after his position came under intense scrutiny.
Barnaby Joyce, leader of the National Party of Australia, triggered a political crisis in February when it was revealed that he was in a relationship with former staffer Vikki Campion, who is expecting their child in April, despite being married with four children.
Joyce has faced widespread calls for his resignation, even from members of the Liberal National Party (LNP) governing coalition, but on Tuesday reaffirmed that "the leader of the Nationals is decided by Nationals Members of Parliament (MPs)."
"I've been in heaps of fights in my political life, this is another one, in any person's political career you aren't created by the times in your favour, you're tempered by the times of adversity. That's how politics works - you rise to deal with it," Joyce told Fairfax Media on Tuesday, the second day of a week of personal leave taken in the wake of the saga.
"I am humbled by the support in my electorate and in the community. People are starting to see this as a witch hunt. I'm not going anywhere, I never would.
"People know enough about me to know that I'm hardly one to run away from a fight."
Joyce participated in a phone hook-up with Nationals party officials on Monday evening but downplayed its significance.
Results of Newspoll, Australia's most respected political poll, on Monday revealed that 65 percent of Australians thought Joyce should resign.
However, Nationals MPs have been unwavering in their support of the party leader.
Michael McCormack, an MP for New South Wales and a potential leadership candidate if Joyce resigned, told Sky News on Monday that "there is no (leadership) challenge."
"There is no spill, there is no vacancy, at the moment," McCormack said.
"Of course I support Barnaby Joyce, he's our leader, he's been a very good leader."
