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Trudeau clings on to power

Global News Briefs 23 Oct, 2019 Follow News

Trudeau clings on to power

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is incredibly relieved after retaining power in Canada's election but lost both his majority and - by a slight margin - the popular vote.

It was a tough election battle for the Liberals but at least the party faithful in Montreal are now breathing a little easier.

Mr Trudeau had an exceptionally long honeymoon by most political standards - but his popularity has clearly dimmed with the Canadian public.

The first trouble came after a disastrous overseas trip to India, which took place against a backdrop of photo-ops showcasing the Trudeau family in elaborate traditional Indian outfits.

Then came the SNC-Lavalin affair - an ethics scandal related to attempts to pressure a former attorney general to cut a deal for a firm facing a corruption trial, which further tarnished Mr Trudeau's personal brand.

That former attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould, was booted out of the Liberal party by Mr Trudeau. Against the odds, Ms Wilson-Raybould ran and won as an independent in her Vancouver riding. She is a vocal critic of Mr Trudeau and will serve as a reminder of that scandal in the House of Commons.

Finally, revelations that Mr Trudeau wore blackface - widely seen as a racist caricature - on at least three occasions shook the Liberal campaign and forced him to ask Canadians to forgive him for his past misbehaviour.


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