Mark Carney wins race to replace Trudeau as Canada's prime minister
After nearly ten years in power, Justin Trudeau is stepping down and will be succeeded by Mark Carney, former head of the Bank of Canada. The economist will have to face the trade war launched by US President Donald Trump. "We will win this fight," Carney said, criticizing Trump's stance in his victory speech.
Canada's Liberal Party on Sunday elected Mark Carney to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as party leader and head of the country's government amid a trade war with the United States that could cripple the Canadian economy.
"There's someone out there trying to undermine our economy," Carney said of Trump after his victory, prompting loud boos at the rally. "He's attacking Canadian workers, families and businesses. We cannot allow him to succeed." "This is not going to be business as usual," Carney said. "We're going to have to do things we never imagined before, at speeds we never thought possible."
Mark Carney, 59, was already seen as the favourite to replace Justin Trudeau as leader of the centre-left Liberal Party in the election that ends on Sunday. After nearly ten years in power, Trudeau announced his resignation in January amid political chaos.
"Make no mistake, this is a defining moment for the nation. Democracy is not something that can be taken for granted. Freedom is not something that can be taken for granted. Even Canada is not something that can be taken for granted," the outgoing prime minister said Sunday.
Former banker Carney won 86 percent of the vote, beating out former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, in a vote involving some 400,000 Liberal Party members.
Following his election as leader of the Liberal Party, Carney will soon replace Trudeau as the country's prime minister until a general election is called, which could take place in April.
In recent weeks, one question has dominated the debate: who was the right person to stand up to Donald Trump and his attacks? And in his victory speech on Sunday, Carney reaffirmed his stance in defence of Canadians and their economy.
After being declared the winner, Carney said that "the Liberal Party of Canada is united, strong and ready to fight to build an even better country" and referred several times to US President Donald Trump and his threats against the country's economy and sovereignty.
"My administration will put in place a plan to build a stronger economy and new trade relationships with trusted trading partners," Carney said, adding that Canada cannot allow Trump to "succeed." "I feel like everything in my life has helped prepare me for this moment," she added.
This message from an experienced man accustomed to managing crises, repeated throughout his campaign, seems to have borne fruit, at a time when the country is shaken by a historic crisis with its powerful neighbour.
Trump has launched a trade war by imposing tariffs on Canadian goods and continues to claim that he wants Canada to become the "51st American state." The attacks have angered Canadians, many of whom are abandoning trips south of the border and boycotting American products.
Experience in the Canadian economy
Mark Carney was very attractive because of "his economic experience and his seriousness," explains Stéphanie Chouinard, professor of political science at the Royal Military College of Canada.
"He has a very good understanding of international financial systems and the strengths and weaknesses of the Canadian economy," he added, noting that he has also managed to distance himself from Justin Trudeau.
"Americans love our country," he added, suggesting that Canada should "build a new economy and create new trade relationships," referring to the heightened tensions with Trump and his tariff war against Canada, Mexico and China.
