Former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has won the race to succeed Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister and Liberal Party leader.

Carney, 59, who easily beat three rivals, will lead the Liberals into the next general election, which is expected to be called in the coming weeks.

In his victory speech, Carney lashed out at US President Donald Trump, who has ignited a trade war with Canada and said he wants to make the country the 51st US state.

Carney, who has never served in elected office, takes power at a time of deep instability for Canada. The Liberals have been trailing the Conservatives in opinion polls, though they have narrowed the gap since the trade war with Trump began.

The leadership race began in January after Trudeau resigned following nearly a decade in office. He had faced internal pressure to quit over deep unpopularity with voters.

Carney won on the first ballot, taking a decisive 85.9% of the vote to beat his nearest rival, beat former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.

Loud cheers erupted as the results were announced to a crowd of some 1,600 party faithful in Ottawa, Canada’s capital.

He is expected to be sworn in as prime minister in the coming days, and will lead a minority government in parliament.

He could either call a snap general election himself or the opposition parties could force one with a no-confidence vote later this month.

The Liberals trailed the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, at the beginning of this year by more than 20 points, but they are now statistically tied with the official opposition.

After being declared winner on Sunday night, Carney said: “Canadians want positive leadership that will end division and help us build together.”

On Trump, he said the US president had placed “unjustified tariffs” on Canada, sparking loud boos from the crowd.

“He’s attacking Canadian workers, families, and businesses,” said Carney. “We can’t let him succeed.”

He said his government would keep tariffs on US imports “until the Americans show us respect”.

“I know these are dark days,” Carney said. “Dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust.

“We’re getting over the shock, but let us never forget the lessons: We have to look after ourselves and we have to look out for each other. We need to pull together in the tough days ahead.”

Carney also pledged to “secure our borders”, which has been a key demand of Trump in their tariff stand-off.

Federal Public Safety Minister David McGuinty, who endorsed Carney, told the BBC that he “embodies the kind of quiet determination, but steely determination and competence to deal with some of these big issues”.

“I’m really, really excited for what’s coming. And frankly, it’s time for an election.”

The former central banker has run on a broadly centrist agenda, a shift away from Trudeau, who moved the Liberals to the left.

Trudeau gave his final speech as prime minister on Sunday night, warning that Canada was facing an “existential challenge” from the US under Trump.

Carney praised his predecessor’s “strength and compassion as a fighter for Canada”.

Among Carney’s key promises, as Canada faces a tariff war with the US, its largest trading partner, is to push forward on major energy projects like pipelines, which have faced a political roadblocks in recent years.

He has promised major investments in housing and clean energy projects, and to liberalise trade within Canada, where barriers remain between provinces, and to diversify trade away form the US.

During the leadership race, Carney promised to cap the size of the federal government, which expanded 40% under Trudeau and to undertake a programme review.

He said in late February he would run a “small” deficit for three years “that aligns with our fiscal capacity”, before balancing the operational budget.

Carney has said the country needs significant investments to counter Trump’s tariff threats, including in defence, energy and port and rail infrastructure.