Canadian federal election, 1972
The 29th Canadian General Election (English 29th Canadian General Election, French 29e élection fédérale canadienne ) took place on 30 October 1972. Were elected 264 Members of the Canadian House of Commons (English House of Commons, French Chambre des Communes ). While the Liberal Party of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau remained the strongest force but fell short of an absolute majority.
The choice
It was the second elections with Trudeau at the helm of the Liberal Party. The " Trudeaumania " which had four years previously dominated the media, was largely subsided. The state of the economy was less positive than in recent years, also felt many Anglo Canadians official bilingualism, ie the equality of English and French at the federal level, as an expensive waste of money. The election campaign the Liberals has been poorly managed. Nevertheless, the opposition Progressive Conservatives could hardly benefit from it, as their chairman Robert Stanfield was indeed viewed as an honest politician, but was also regarded as clumsy.
On election night, it seemed even more so, as if the Progressive Conservatives won 109 seats and thus decided the election just for themselves. Upon completion of the count on the following day, however, it was clear that the Liberals had just kept the upper hand despite a 7 percent lower voter share. They were forced to form a minority government, and were in the House to support the New Democratic Party instructed.
The turnout was 76.7 %.