Canada: Mark Carney replaces Justin Trudeau
Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, has been elected leader of the Canadian Liberal Party by a large majority. With the appointment Carney will also take over the post of prime minister after Justin Trudeau resigns. He has vowed that Canada will not become part of the US under any circumstances. European media weigh in.
Tricky negotiations ahead
El País sees a general trend in the way the US deals with allies:
“Mark Carney wants to call elections as soon as possible so that, in the event of a victory, he will be well positioned for the thorny talks with the White House. ... Although the main focus will be tariffs and border controls, the neighbour's untenable annexation proposal will also be a big factor. ... Trump wants the Arctic for its rare minerals, which he considers essential in his battle with China for world domination. Canada's future after the elections is indicative of a trend that could emerge in other countries which have been US allies so far - with Trump instrumentalising alliances built up over a century and then torpedoing them within the space of a few weeks to replace them with commercial and diplomatic relations that alternate between transaction and extortion.”
A no-nonsense technocrat
The Canadians stand behind Mark Carney in the dispute with the US, The Irish Times notes:
“Now [Trump] has a genuine former central bank governor as his interlocutor in Ottawa, a tough no-nonsense technocrat who has, courtesy of Trump, galvanised the country and transformed the prospects of his party and the standing of the 10-year-old government. Angry Canadians are determined not to be a pushover. ... Carney, who will step into the premiership immediately, has promised to call an election quickly to secure a mandate for the confrontation with the US. ... Polls show Carney as the prospective prime minister most trusted to stand up to Trump.”
Patch up this marriage on the rocks
Carney should seek to avoid a trade war if possible, advises The Times:
“Mr Carney goes so far as to claim that Canada can actually win a tariff war with the US. That is a bold statement given that the US economy is ten times bigger than Canada's, and can absorb more punishment. The reality is that neither David nor Goliath would win a trade war involving the disruption of intricate crossborder supply chains established over decades. An acrimonious US-Canadian divorce is the last thing either partner needs. Hopefully, Mr Carney will, after the electoral rhetoric is put away, return to that more sober side of his, and try to patch up what was once a stable marriage.”