in World News Mark Carney named Liberal leader, will replace Trudeau as Canada’s next prime minister
Roberto Wakerell-Cruz
Carney won with 85 percent of the vote
Mark Carney has won the race to lead Canada’s Liberal Party, securing his place as the country’s next prime minister.
The former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England will now replace Justin Trudeau as leader, taking office at a time of heightened tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump. A short transition will take place over the next week, with Carney expected to officially take over in the coming days.
Carney, who was widely seen as the frontrunner throughout the contest, won with strong support from Trudeau’s cabinet and over half of the Liberal members of Parliament. His main challenger, Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau’s former deputy prime minister, fell short despite her experience in senior cabinet roles. In all, Carney won with 85 percent of the vote.
The Liberal Party confirmed that 151,899 members cast ballots before voting closed at 3 p.m. local time. Freeland won 8 percent of the vote, while two other candidates–Frank Baylis and Karina Gould–both won around 3 percent of the vote.
Carney has positioned himself as the strongest candidate to push back against Trump’s policies, which have disrupted Canada’s economy through trade uncertainty and tariffs.
The U.S. president has repeatedly made comments about annexing Canada, straining relations between the two countries.
During his victory speech, Carney said he will lead with “fiscal responsibility, social justice, and international leadership.”
He credited Trudeauu with “transforming Canada” by uplifting chidlren out of poverty, moving reconcilliation forward, and “defending freedom and democracy here and throughout the world.”
“I think I speak for everyone here when I thank you for your heard work, leadership, and service to our great country.”
Last week, he said Trump “is attacking what we build. He is attacking what we sell. He is attacking how we earn our living,” Carney told supporters at a campaign rally near Toronto on Friday.
“We are facing the most serious crisis in our lifetime,” he added. “Everything in my life has prepared me for this moment.”