Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper won the legislative elections Tuesday in Canada but will be content for the second time a minority government, according to projections of television channels. This election was the first in the G7 countries to take place in the wake of the global financial turmoil and Mr. Harper has managed to convince enough voters that it was best able to lead the country in the uncertain situation current.
According to projections chains, Conservatives were elected or leading in at least 142 of 308 constituencies, a score slightly higher than their results of 2006 elections, but insufficient to achieve the majority. The Liberal Stéphane Dion, main opposition appeared to move towards their worst since 1984, with about 75 members.
Mr. Harper, this victory is not a complete success. "Stephen Harper did not cause elections to remain minority", launched Bob Rae, a senior Liberal. It was the third parliamentary election in four years, and as the two preceding it leads to a minority government.
Mr. Harper had triggered the early elections in September, arguing that his minority government was paralyzed by the obstruction of the opposition, and had started the race with a comfortable lead over his main rival, the Liberal Party Stéphane Dion. His opponents have suspected of wanting to provoke a vote early for fear that a possible economic slowdown would reduce his chances later, but it probably does not expect a rapid worsening of the global financial turmoil , Which changed the face of the campaign.
While Canada has been less affected by the financial crisis that many other countries, Mr. Harper, whose heat is not the main feature, found himself on the defensive, accused by the opposition of inertia and indifference to the concerns of Canadians, and the symbol of the Conservatives has fallen. His opponents have accused him of being "totally disconnected" from the reality lived by his countrymen for having suggested that there was no doubt bargains to the stock exchange, while Canadians saw their savings melt.
The polls showed that these failures, as well as measures that have reduced their support in Quebec, the Conservatives would probably a coveted majority after nearly three years of minority government. The troops of Mr. Harper have ultimately managed to keep a sufficient gap with the Liberal Party to remain remain in power even if Mr. Harper has lost feathers in this campaign.
The Liberals have also been handicapped by a proposed carbon tax suggested by Mr. Dion, to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, which is badly in the opinion, but also by the charismatic little image their leader. The Liberal Party has suffered competition from three other parties, which took with him the center-left or left: the New Democratic Party (NDP, left), the Green Party and the Bloc Quebecois (separatist), which does elect Members in Quebec.
The political career of Mr. Dion, who heads his party since late 2006, could be compromised by his defeat. He said he had no intention to cede its place, but his party has no shortage of candidates for his succession. Upon the dissolution of parliament, the Conservative Party had 127 seat, the Liberals 95, NDP 30, and the Bloc Quebecois 48.
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