Liberals pull off stunning upset to win Canada polls

The Liberal Party won the Canadian general election, giving former central banker and incumbent PM Mark Carney a mandate to govern, a stunning turnaround in fortunes since his predecessor Justin Trudeau's popularity plummeted.

- Anirudh Bhattacharyya

Carney's gamble of triggering an early election, however, fell short of securing the majority he sought.

Carney's party had about 43.6% of the national vote, securing or leading in 168 of the 172 seats needed for a majority in the House of Commons, meaning the government would be forced to work with other parties to pass budgets and other legislation.

Under the tightest scenarios, the Bloc Québécois, which runs candidates only in French-speaking Quebec, might hold the balance of power. The NDP with seven seats, could also be involved, depending on the final tally for the Liberals.

The Liberals looked headed for a crushing defeat until US President Donald Trump started attacking Canada's economy and threatening its sovereignty, suggesting it should become the 51st state. Trump's actions infuriated Canadians and stoked a surge in nationalism that helped the Liberals flip the election narrative and win a fourth-straight term in power.

In a victory speech before supporters in Ottawa, Carney stressed the importance of Canadian unity. "We are over the shock of the American betrayal, but we should never forget the lessons," he said.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Carney for his party's victory in a post on X on Tuesday, saying he looks forward to working with the Canadian PM. Modi highlighted the "shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and vibrant people-to-people ties" between the two countries.