New York, September 21 (BUS): Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party is expected to win the Canadian parliamentary elections, but it appears that it will fall short of its goal of regaining an absolute majority.
The prime minister’s ruling party won about 156 seats compared to the 121 the opposition Conservatives won in Monday’s election, according to a forecast by Canadian Public Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) based on preliminary results with more than 90, German news agency DPA reported. percent of opinion polls.
“You’re taking us back to work with a clear mandate to get Canada out of this pandemic, and to the brighter days ahead,” Trudeau said in his victory speech early Tuesday.
Trudeau’s party would need 170 seats for an absolute majority, but the result so far shows little change since the 2019 election.
This means that the liberals will continue to rely on the help of other parties. The center-left New Democrats (NDP) and the Quebec regional bloc party were expected to take 27 and 32 seats, respectively, while the Greens were expected to run only two seats.
Trudeau has ruled the country of 38 million people since 2015, but for the past two years has headed a minority government.
The 49-year-old called for an early vote a few weeks ago with the aim of achieving an absolute majority, spurred on by his government’s successful anti-coronavirus policy.
He received some criticism over the timing of the quick poll, with some saying it was inappropriate to call elections during the fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic and with a relatively stable minority government.
Trudeau addressed the skeptics in his speech.
“I heard you, you don’t want us to talk about politics or elections anymore. You want us to focus on the work we have to do for you.”
He cited ending the epidemic, fighting the climate crisis and providing better care for children as priorities.
“Our team, our government is ready,” Trudeau said.
But the race between Trudeau’s liberals and conservatives, led by Erin O’Toole, has been tight.
O’Toole said Trudeau was hoping for a “quick power grab”.
“Canadians brought him back with another minority at a cost of $600 million, and deeper divisions in our great country,” he said.
In a blow to Trudeau, he said the divisions in the country should be addressed, rather than exposing them to the risk of exacerbating them for “selfish gain”.
The latest federal vote brought the Liberals 157 seats, while the Conservatives won 121 seats. This led to a minority Trudeau government – a recurring outcome in Canadian politics, with rare coalition governments.
Mandate in 338 electoral districts distributed according to the principle of absolute majority. This is traditionally in favor of liberals.
In addition to the climate crisis, local political issues such as the rising cost of living and healthcare have dominated this election campaign.
HF