The first provisional results for the European Parliament elections are projected on a large screen during an election event at the European Parliament in Brussels, on June 9.Harry Nakos/The Associated Press
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he’s taking an optimistic approach in politics after a lurch to the far-right in this past weekend’s Europe-wide elections.
Far-right parties have surged in voting for the European Parliament, taking the share of mainstream parties.
French President Emmanuel Macron made a surprise call for early legislative elections after his party suffered a heavy loss to the far-right National Rally party.
Mr. Trudeau says political parties around the world are instrumentalizing anger and leaders need to instead come up with viable solutions to problems.
Carleton University professor Achim Hurrelmann says this past weekend’s vote comes at a time when there are challenges across the continent in addressing concerns around the cost of living and immigration.
He says the results could put strains on Canada’s free-trade deal with Europe and that affordability concerns could weaken climate policies that countries have shaped alongside Canada.