Vancouver: The leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP), Jagmeet Singh, announced his resignation after his party failed to secure enough seats to maintain official status in parliament. This decision comes in the wake of an election where Singh not only lost his leadership position but also his parliamentary seat in British Columbia.
According to Anadolu Agency, Singh expressed his disappointment in a message on X, where he lamented the party’s inability to win more seats. Despite the setback, Singh conveyed a sense of optimism, emphasizing his belief in hope over fear. During an emotional speech following the election results, Singh acknowledged the pain of the loss but reinforced the importance of perseverance and hope for a better future for Canada.
The NDP, known for its advocacy of stronger social programs and workers’ rights, required a minimum of 12 seats to retain its official recognition in the House of Commons. The loss of this status means the party will face reduced resources and diminished influence within parliament. Singh, who has been a member of parliament since 2019, finished third in his district and announced that he would remain as leader until an interim successor is appointed.
In the same election, Canadians voted the Liberal Party into leadership with 43.5% of the valid votes. The Liberals secured 168 of the 343 seats in the House of Commons but fell short of the 172 seats needed for a majority. Meanwhile, the main opposition, the Conservative Party, garnered 41.4% of the vote, translating to 144 seats.