Canada election: Justin Trudeau forced to form minority government
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has retained power but must form a minority government after only just winning the Canada election.
Trudeau’s Liberal Party must now rely on a smaller left-wing ally to govern after a campaign in which scandals beset the politician, including an old photo in which he wore blackface.
Read more: Why blackface is just one thing about Trudeau that should worry you
His Liberals were ahead in 156 out of 338 seats according to Elections Canada, leaving the party well shy of the 170 seats he needed for a majority government.
Polls had predicted a close race between Trudeau and his Conservative rival Andrew Scheer.
The Conservatives are on track for 122 seats, a significant gain from the 95 it last held. Scheer is expected to win the popular vote but could not wrest control from Trudeau.
The New Democratic Party (NDP) has said it will work with Trudeau to pass key legislartion, Leader Jagmeet Singh said he would co-operate with Trudeau and “work hard to deliver on the country’s priorities”.
“You did it my friends. Congratulations!” Trudeau told supporters in Montreal. “Thank you for having faith in us to move our country in the right direction.”
But voters appeared to rebuke Trudeau in what has been seen as a vote of confidence in the leader after the blackface scandal and how he handled a corporate corruption case.
Trudeau came to power in 2015 but has been criticised for not delivering on promises. He has faced anger for his support for the Trans Mountain oil pipeline project, which some have seen as a contradiction to his stance on the environment.
Read more: Trudeau accuses China of using arbitrary detention
Meanwhile he backtracked on a vow to reform federal elections.
Last month an ethics watchdog found he had violated conflict of interest rules by trying to influence a former minister on a criminal trial facing CXanadian engineering giant SNC-Lavalin.