Carney demands change: Canada's election campaign between hope and crisis

Carney demands change: Canada's election campaign between hope and crisis

Kanada - in Canada there is a crucial political change. Mark Carney, the new chairman of the Liberal Party, is pressing in the campaign for the Prime Minister. His choice took place under great applause when he received an impressive 85.9 percent of the vote and thus succeeded Justin Trudeau, who had announced his resignation in early January 2025 after his party had dramatically fallen in surveys. With a backing of 42.5 % in current surveys, whereas the conservatives under Pierre Poilievre are 38.7 %, Carney sees the liberals well placed for the upcoming elections, which should take place in a few weeks in May.

Carney, who is known for its expertise in business and his crisis management during the financial crisis in 2008, emphasizes the need for an “adult” in politics in his election campaign to lead the country through the current challenges. In a clear sign of his commitment to greater economy, he demands reforms and emphasizes that the Canadians have overcome the "shock" of the past few years, but should not forget the teachings from it. He criticizes his challenger Poilievre for his lack of economic policy experience and accuses him of not having a specific plan for the future.

economic reforms and trade strategies

carney approach also includes tax reliefs for the middle class and the reduction of bureaucratic hurdles to boost growth. He also goes one step further by abolishing the CO2 tax previously introduced by Trudeau in order to differentiate himself from his predecessor and open a new economic chapter. He advocates closer cooperation with Europe and Asia to reduce the trade dependency from the USA and has already undertaken his first trip abroad as a prime minister to France, which is considered a sign of approach.

The challenges for Carney are great. Critics complain that he is far from the reality of many Canadians. In particular, his language skills are denounced in French, which is important for a political career in Canada. Despite these concerns, a survey shows that 40 % of Canadian Carney consider the best politician to negotiate with the United States, which underlines its acceptance across the party borders.

political headwind and campaign management

Infection damage from the Trump administration, which turned out to be unfavorable in Canada, have significantly influenced the political landscape. Carney criticized Trump and the negative impact of his politics on the global economy and Canada and thus opposed the partially populared "anti-trump mood" in the country. Trudeau had reacted to American products with counter-tariffs, but Carney strives to position the liberals as a “team Canada” against US politics.

The population is in motion: of 28.9 million citizens entitled to vote, over seven million have already made their vote prematurely. The choice is expected in the short time after the polling stations were closed in a few hours. The liberal look optimistically into the future, while the opposition, led by Poilievre, is already putting pressure on a vote of no confidence. The result of these elections could not only shape the future of Carney, but the entire political orientation of Canada.

The next few weeks are crucial: if Carney was able to win the elections, he could crown himself as the new Prime Minister of Canada and at the same time tackle the challenges that Justin Trudeau left. The expectations are high and the voters will be observed closely on how the new party leader puts his plans into practice.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the political landscape in Canada develops after the elections and whether Mark Carney can bring back the hoped -for stability and the necessary trust.

Kleine Zeitung , Ö24 , ZDF