The Liberal Party of Canada faced another electoral setback on Monday.
Louis-Philippe Sauvé, running on the Bloc Québécois ticket, secured the LaSalle-Émard-Verdun parliamentary seat, defeating Liberal candidate Laura Palestini, who was endorsed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The race was close, with Sauvé garnering 28% of the vote. According to results, the Bloc Québécois candidate edged out the Liberal candidate by less than 250 votes.
“Naturally, it would have been preferable to win,” Trudeau stated in a press conference held in Ottawa on Tuesday. “…But there’s more work to be done.”
“The primary objective is to ensure Canadians comprehend the choice they have in the upcoming election,” Trudeau added.
Trudeau has served as Prime Minister for nine years, signifying the Liberal Party’s grip on power in the Canadian parliament for nearly a decade.
A recent Ipsos poll assessing the “best Prime Minister” ranked Trudeau at 26%. In contrast, Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative Party’s PM candidate, received a 45% rating in the same poll.
The Liberal Party has suffered defeats in other by-elections throughout the summer. In June, the Conservatives narrowly secured the Toronto-St. Paul’s seat, traditionally considered a Liberal stronghold.
The Bloc Québécois, self-described as “the sole party advocating for Quebec’s interests,” seeks independence from Canada.
Sauvé, the newly elected Bloc Québécois MP, remarked in a press conference, “It was an emotional rollercoaster, I experienced a range of feelings.”
“But today, I’m feeling positive. I’m grateful, grateful to the residents of my neighborhood for choosing me as their MP,” Sauvé added.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s term is scheduled to end on October 25, 2025.
The office of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did not immediately respond to Digital’s request for comment.