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Mark Carney has emerged victorious in Canada’s election, with the national broadcaster projecting his win. However, his parliamentary majority hangs in the balance following a campaign focused on the country’s relationship with the US under Donald Trump.
As polls closed across much of the country on Monday, Carney’s party seemed on track to secure the largest number of seats and the right to form a government, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Nevertheless, the question of whether he could secure a parliamentary majority or would need to rely on other parties to govern in a minority administration remained uncertain.
By 11 pm in Toronto, the Liberals were leading in 159 seats in the 343-seat House of Commons, with the Conservatives trailing at 142, as reported by the CBC. This put Carney’s party in a strong position to at least form a minority government.
The result represents a remarkable comeback for the Liberals, who were facing a loss of power until Justin Trudeau, the Prime Minister for almost a decade, stepped down as party leader earlier this year. Carney assumed leadership in March, leading the party to victory.
Carney’s win is seen as a triumph for centrist, internationalist politics in the era of Trump. With experience leading Canada’s central bank during the 2008 financial crisis and the Bank of England during Brexit, Carney is well-equipped to handle the economic challenges posed by the US president.
A former executive at Goldman Sachs and Brookfield, Carney’s entry into electoral politics earlier this year has now propelled him to manage crucial negotiations with Canada’s largest trading partner and spearhead global efforts to mitigate the impact of Trump’s trade policies.
During the campaign, Carney capitalized on a surge of patriotism in response to Trump’s tariffs on Canada, positioning defiance against the US president as a central theme. “This is Canada, and we decide what we do here,” he declared in his closing message to the country before the vote.
As Carney prepares to enter parliament for the first time as an MP, his victory signals a shift in Canada’s approach to its relationship with the US. With promises of a “broad renegotiation” of the trade deal between the two countries, Carney’s leadership is poised to navigate the changing dynamics in North American politics.
The election night also saw challenges for other parties, with the New Democratic Party facing significant losses as voters gravitated towards the two main parties. Additionally, the Bloc Québécois, the federal nationalist party from Quebec, experienced a sharp decline in support.
Overall, Carney’s win marks a turning point in Canadian politics, reflecting a renewed focus on sovereignty, economic stability, and assertive foreign policy in the face of global challenges.
