Mark Carney Wins Liberal Leadership Race to Succeed Trudeau as Canada's Prime Minister

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Mark Carney, the former central banker, emerged victorious in the race to become the leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party and will succeed Justin Trudeau as the country's next Prime Minister. The official results, announced on Sunday, show Carney securing 86% of the vote, defeating former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in a contest that saw nearly 152,000 party members participate.

Carney’s win comes at a challenging time for Canada, as the country faces heightened tensions in its trade relations with the United States. Under President Donald Trump, the U.S. has imposed tariffs on Canadian goods, leading to a trade war between the two countries. Carney, who has no prior political experience, is taking over the leadership amid mounting pressure from these economic challenges.

In his acceptance speech, Carney made it clear that his primary focus would be on standing up to the U.S. president. “There’s someone who’s trying to weaken our economy,” Carney said, referring to Trump, as the crowd responded with boos. “He’s attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses. We can’t let him succeed.”

Carney, 59, also expressed his determination to confront the challenges facing Canada’s export-dependent economy, vowing to take aggressive actions in trade negotiations. His plan includes keeping retaliatory tariffs in place until the U.S. shows more respect for Canada’s economy. “My government will keep our tariffs on until the Americans show us respect,” he stated.

The leadership race came after Trudeau announced in January that he would step down following more than nine years in office, with his approval ratings plummeting. The Liberal Party quickly organized a leadership contest, and Carney’s experience as the governor of both Canada’s and the UK’s central banks positioned him as the most capable candidate to tackle the looming trade issues with Trump.

Carney’s victory marks a significant shift for the Liberal Party, which had been trailing in the polls at the start of 2025. The party’s fortunes have dramatically improved, now statistically tied with the Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, in several polls. The shift has been partly attributed to a rallying response to the trade tensions with the U.S. and Carney’s promise of a fresh start for the party.

Despite this turnaround, polls indicate that neither the Liberals nor the Conservatives are likely to secure a majority government in the upcoming election. A general election must be held by October 20, but sources within the Liberal Party suggest that Carney may call for an election sooner, in the coming weeks.

While Carney could technically serve as prime minister without a seat in the House of Commons, tradition dictates that he will seek to secure one as quickly as possible. The next few weeks are expected to be crucial for Carney’s leadership as he prepares for what could be a defining moment in Canada’s political landscape.