Anti-Trump bump trends in elections around the world

In polls in Canada and Australia, parties that borrowed from Maga playbook lost out

- Matina Stevis-Gridneff

TORONTO - The Trump factor is shaping global politics, one election at a time — just not necessarily to the US President's taste.

In major votes in Canada and Australia over the past two weeks, centrists saw their fortunes revived, while parties that had borrowed from the Maga (Make America Great Again) playbook lost out.

President Donald Trump has been back in power for only three months, but already, his policies, including imposing tariffs and upending alliances, have rippled into domestic political battles around the world.

Although it is too soon to say that anti-Trump forces are on the rise globally, it is clear that voters have Mr. Trump somewhere on their mind as they make decisions.

Canada and Australia share a lot in common: a political system, a major mining industry, a sovereign in King Charles. Now, they also share a remarkable political story.

In both countries, before Mr. Trump was inaugurated, the centre-left ruling parties had been in poor shape and appeared poised to lose power. The front runners in polls were the conservative parties, whose leaders flirted with Trumpian politics in style and substance.

Within weeks after Mr. Trump's return to power, the Canadian and Australian political scenarios flipped in the same way: The centre-left incumbents surged ahead of the conservative oppositions, and went on to win.

Both countries' conservative leaders lost not just the elections — they even lost their own seats in Parliament.