New York, Mar. 23, (dpa/GNA) – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Sunday called early parliamentary elections for April 28, seizing on a surge in support as a trade war with the United States rattles the country’s economy and politics.
Carney is to run as the lead candidate for the Liberal Party against Pierre Poilievre of the Conservative Party.
The election was widely anticipated. Former prime minister Justin Trudeau resigned in January after his Liberal Party experienced a drop in support due to the country’s weak economy and rising prices.
Carney was elected as the party’s leader and interim prime minister in March, but had anticipated a no-confidence vote in parliament.
For months, a shift of power to the Conservatives under Poilievre was considered highly likely in the next election.
However, Canada’s trade war with the United States seems to have given the Liberals a surprising boost, with Carney currently leading in the polls.
The US imposed 25% tariffs on many goods imported from Canada, including steel and aluminium. Ottawa retaliated with counter-tariffs on the US.
US President Donald Trump has also been campaigning for Canada to become the “51st state.”
Both Carney and Poilievre are trying to convince the electorate that they will stand up to Trump.
With anti-Washington sentiment running high, Poilievre is finding it harder to present himself as a counterweight to the US president. His style and agenda are reminiscent of Trump’s, with a focus on low taxes, budget cuts, criticism of fake news and a and a populist ideology.
Carney is seen as capable of managing a crisis, despite lacking government experience. He led Canada’s central bank through the financial crisis and later steered the Bank of England during Brexit.
Most recently, Carney served as the UN special envoy for climate action and finance.
Carney advocates closer collaboration with Europe and Asia to reduce dependency on trade with the US.
GNA
PDC