Despite significant losses in the parliamentary elections, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau can continue to govern. With presumably 156 seats in Ottawa, the Liberals remained well below their 184 mandates in 2015 - an absolute majority would have required 170 seats.
The result is that liberals now need the toleration of smaller parties to govern and actively seek majorities, such as the Social Democrats or the strengthened regional Bloc Québécois. Minority governments are not uncommon in Canada, but usually have a shorter half-life than cabinets, which are based on an absolute majority. "We will move forward together into a better future," Trudeau told supporters in Montreal. His team will fight for all Canadians.
Todd Korol / REUTERS
Trudeau's rival Andrew Scheer: "We are the government in wait"
The Conservatives were due to the direct election system with 122 mandates clearly behind the Liberals, although they received the most votes overall.
More about SPIEGEL +
Turning to his critics, Trudeau said he had heard her disappointment and will make sure her voices are heard. The Liberal government will continue what it has begun over the past four years. These included the fight against climate change and armed violence.
Conservative lead candidate Andrew Scheer has been wary of Trudeau: "His leadership is down and his government will soon be over," he said. And if she fell, the conservatives would stand by. "We are the government in wait". Scheer stressed that the Conservatives had received more votes than the Liberals.
US President Donald Trump Premier congratulated Trudeau on his "hard-fought victory", with which Canada is well served. "I look forward to working with you to improve our two countries," Trump wrote on Tuesday morning on Twitter.
Even before the election in the second largest country in the world, it had become apparent that Trudeau could lose his absolute majority in parliament. Around 27 million citizens in the G7 state were called upon to elect new MPs.