Vigorous Pushback by Liberals in 2025 Canada Election Results | Vijay Kumar

Harold Wilson, former Prime Minister of England, once remarked that “A week is a long time in politics”. Yesterday’s election result in Canada has demonstrated that the political mood is amoebic and in fluid all the time, and can never be cast in stone.

Till January, the Liberal Party was 25 points behind the Conservatives, and was literally written off. Then Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, became so unpopular that he was forced to resign and it was pretty certain that after 15 years rule of Liberal Party, Conservatives would form the Government. Trudeau was replaced by present Prime Minister, Mark Carney. Then came the greatest political and economic upheaval in international politics and trade – the return of Donald Trump in the White House – the office of the most powerful political executive of the world. As predicted, Trump acted like ‘bull in a China Shop’, and declared that he would make Canada 51st State of America. This was the grossest breach of first and foremost principle of International Law: “Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty”. This was followed up by the imposition of tariffs. Carney rose to the challenge, and he canvassed his election on the ground of saving the “Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty” of Canada, and people rallied behind him. The result is stunning recovery from certain defeat for the Party, which had no future till January, has returned to power fourth consecutive time. Despite widespread unpopularity and anti-incumbency, the Liberal Party has returned to power and this is a gift from Trump. Therefore, Carney owes his victory to autocratic and imperious Trump. Nationalism, grounded firmly in the most precious norms of International Law: “Territorial Integrity and Sovereignty” propelled the Liberal Party to retain power.

It is true that this salutary election result does not and will not mitigate the economic problems of Canada, aggravated by the unilateral imposition of steep tariffs by Trump. But the significance of election results is that politics has returned to the driving seat. I have always argued that politics should dictate the economic policy rather than the other way round. One of the undemocratic features of globalisation has been that it put economics on the ascendancy and politics was subordinated to it. Once political will is asserted, it may – indeed, it should – shape the contours of politics. If Canadian example is followed by other countries, especially by G-7 countries of which Canada is itself a member, it may lead to robust resurgence of forces which can resist the fastest politics of Trump. Moreover, Carney, being a seasoned economist with highly enviable experience of the head of the Central Bank of Canada and England, is the most qualified person to steer Canada’s economy.

The most salutary aspect of Canada election results is that it will give fillip to liberal intellectuals in other parts of the world to challenge Trump and his right- wing fascist politics. Even before arrival of Trump, the liberal politics was in retreat. Return of Trump for second time aggravated the crisis of liberalism. The principled and heroic response from Canada voters, especially its liberal intellectuals, should nudge their counterparts in other parts of globe to resist the Trumpian onslaught on democracy and international law.

(Author: Vijay Kumar, Senior Advocate, and the author of a recent book The Theory Of Basic Structure: Saviour of The Constitution And Democracy)