Liberals Lose Safe Montreal Seat, This is a crushing blow to the Liberal Party and its leader Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as they lost a key by-election in Montreal. Long considered an easy constituency for the Liberals, this loss may raise many fears in the run-up to the next federal election.
Surge in Fears Over Trudeau’s Leadership
The loss of the second special election has dealt the Liberals their second blow, following an early loss in Toronto. Questions about leadership are increasingly being asked about the leadership in which Trudeau is expected to continue playing a central role in the next Canadian federal election.
According to analysts, the party’s ability to retain its urban base-which has always been the core support base for this party-now rests decidedly weakened.
Early Election on the Horizon?
The prospects of an early national election have increased with the Liberal Party’s fracturing of its agreement with the New Democratic Party. In the absence of the absent NDP votes, the votes cast for its key legislation can hardly be sustained by Trudeau’s minority government, which is expected to happen in several confidence votes over the next few months.
Opposition Parties Sense Opportunity:
This loss is a gift to the opposition. The right-of-center Conservative Party has skyrocketed in the polls in recent weeks by capitalizing on popular dissatisfaction with Trudeau’s handling of inflation and the housing crisis. The NDP strengthened its party’s vote share in the Montreal by-election, which is an indication of changing attitudes among voters.
What’s Trudeau Going to Do?
Yet, Trudeau has stood his ground to take the leadership of the Liberal Party into another election. He said there is still “more work to do.” However, internal debate may soon bubble up within the party if the political fortunes do not improve.
