In the wake of significant gains by right-wing parties in the recent European elections, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has drawn criticism for his comments on the matter, saying they are a problem that need to be “solved.”
The elections, held from June 6 to 9, saw right-wing parties securing victories in countries like France, Germany, and Italy. Notably, Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party emerged as a dominant force in France, leading President Emmanuel Macron to dissolve Parliament and call for snap legislative elections.
When asked about the election results, Trudeau, who once told an audience he envied China’s “basic dictatorship” because of how fast they could enact change, said he saw the democratic outcomes as problems to be solved.
“We have seen around the world a rise of populist right-wing forces in just about every democracy that we’ve seen, and it is of concern to see political parties choosing to instrumentalize anger, fear, division, anxiety,” Trudeau said.
He continued, “My approach has always been to respond to it, to understand it and to look to solve it, to roll up our sleeves, work hard and with ambition for this country and for our future. And I continue to be convinced that Canadians are thoughtful about the challenges we’re facing and ready to see them solved rather than just allow themselves to be have their anger amplified without any solutions offered.”
Ironically, two years ago, six MEPs and an Irish Senator openly denounced Trudeau during his trip to the EU, labelling him a “dictator”, “disgrace”, and someone who “tramples on democratic rights”.
Opposition leader Pierre Poilievre has also accused Trudeau of admiring Fidel Castro, and doing whatever dictators want in exchange for election wins.
