Canada Election:

Trudeau Set to Remain in Power But with Minority Government

TEHRAN (defapress)- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was set to win a second term in Canada's parliamentary elections despite a series of scandals, but will have to form a minority government.

News ID: 79066

Date: 22 October 2019 - 14:48

Trudeau's Liberal party was set to win the most seats in Parliament, giving it the best chance to form the next government, Sky News reported.

However, according to partial results, his Liberal party had won 156 out of 338 seats - short of the 170 seats needed for a second straight majority government. The Conservatives were set to win 122.

That means the Liberals will have to form a minority government, relying on a smaller party to stay in power.

"You did it, my friends. Congratulations," Trudeau told supporters in Montreal early on Tuesday.

Trudeau's Liberals are expected to rely on the left-leaning New Democrats to form a government and stay in power. Their leader Jagmeet Singh said he had spoken to Trudeau and would work hard to deliver on the country's priorities.

US President Donald Trump was among the first to congratulate Trudeau for his "hard fought victory", saying that he looked forward to working with him.

The Canadian vote came down to what was essentially a choice between Trudeau and the Conservative leader, Andrew Scheer.

Trudeau reasserted liberalism in 2015 after almost 10 years of Conservative Party government in Canada, but a series of scandals threatened his prospects.

Barack Obama made an unprecedented endorsement by a former American president in urging Canadians to re-elect the prime minister and saying the world needs his progressive leadership now.

The son of the liberal icon and late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, he is one of the few remaining progressive leaders in the world.

But old photos of Trudeau posing with blackface surfaced last month, casting doubt on his judgement.

He was also was hurt by a scandal that erupted this year when his former attorney general said he pressured her to halt the prosecution of a Quebec company.

Trudeau has said he was standing up for jobs, but the damage gave a boost to the Conservative Party.

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