After the first vote, Boris Johnson takes the opportunity to succeed in May

LONDON.-

Boris Johnson

took a big advantage today in the fight to become the next British Prime Minister, the first round of voting organized by Conservative Party lawmakers to replace

Theresa May

.

Johnson, a former foreign minister and leader of the Brexit campaign in May, won 114 of the 313 votes cast in the playoff round, reducing the number of candidates from 10 to seven. Current Chancellor Jeremy Hunt finished second with 43 votes and Environment Minister Michael Gove third with 27.

Johnson thanked his fans and tweeted, "I'm delighted to win the first round, but there is still a long way to go."

The result, which exceeded the expectations of his team, means that it will certainly be one of the last two candidates for which the 160,000 party members will vote throughout the country. The winner will be the leader of the Conservative Party and the Prime Minister of Great Britain, succeeding Theresa May.

The eliminated legislators, Esther McVey, Mark Harper and Andrea Leadsom, did not reach the minimum number of 17 votes needed to continue to participate in the contest.

The dominant problem is the British exit from the European Union, which is stopped. All candidates promise to achieve what May could not: the consumption of

Brexit

.

Nearly three years after the UK voted between 52% and 48% in favor of leaving the EU, the conservative ruling party recorded its worst result for centuries in last month's European elections , and opinion polls indicate that early elections would produce a parliament without a clear majority.

The departure was scheduled for March 29, but was postponed until October 31 because of the political stalemate in London.

Johnson promised Wednesday that, as prime minister, "I will consume the Brexit", whether by renegotiating the May deal with the EU, rejected by Parliament or without agreement.

EU leaders are determined not to change the pact and economists warn that an exit without agreement will cause economic chaos in Britain.

Besides Johnson, Hunt and Gove, former Brexit Minister Dominic Raab and his interior counterparts, Sajid Javid; of health, Matt Hanbad, and international development, Rory Stewart.

Next week, new polls will be held until there are two candidates, who will be voted on by the 160,000 party members across the country. The result is expected by the end of July.

Johnson has the declared support of over 80% of his colleagues.

AP Agency and Reuters