In recent elections across the world, many right-wing politicians echoed US President Donald Trump’s political style, policies and even rhetoric, reflecting a rise in populism. But the tide is turning and in several instances, Trumpism has backfired.
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In Canada and Australia, an “anti-Trump bump” was in effect as voters rejected chaos and Trump-style protectionism in favour of stability and centrism. Thanks to the Trump effect, political parties previously expected to lose reversed their electoral fate.
In Canada, just months ago, the Conservatives had been ahead of the Liberal Party in the polls by some 20 percentage points. By the time the federal election was held last month, Mark Carney and his Liberal Party had turned the race around, winning on a platform of reducing Canada’s reliance on the United States in preparation for a changing global order.
In contrast, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s campaign echoed Trump’s approach, attacking institutions and focusing on inflation. Carney’s message, however, increasingly resonated amid a public backlash against Trump’s suggestion that Canada should become the 51st US state. In response to Trump’s aggressive trade policies and provocative rhetoric, Canadians chose to show unwavering support for national sovereignty. In his victory speech, Prime Minister Carney declared that the old Canada-US relationship was “over”.
In Australia, where no prime minister had been consecutively re-elected in over two decades, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gained momentum as Trump’s tariffs began to hurt Australian exports. Opposition leader Peter Dutton, who had been ahead in the polls, essentially imported Trump’s outlook and heavily leaned towards immigration crackdowns and stricter law and order.
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In contrast, Albanese ran on a centrist, stability-focused platform centred on economic reform and national unity. This ended up striking a chord with the public, helping the Labor Party to a landslide victory while Dutton lost his seat.