Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau weakened after a key ally withdrew his support By Reuters

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suffered an unexpected blow on Wednesday when the small political party that helps keep his minority Liberal government in power withdrew its support.

The announcement does not mean Trudeau is in immediate danger of having to resign and call a new election.

However, he will need to find support from opposition lawmakers in the House of Commons if he is to pass budgets and survive confidence votes.

Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the left-leaning New Democratic Party, said in a video that he was walking away from an agreement struck by the two men in 2022.

According to it, the NDP agreed to keep Trudeau in power until mid-2025 in exchange for higher social spending.

In the video, Singh said Trudeau has been unable to support the middle class.

Recent polls suggest Trudeau, who first took office in November 2015, would lose heavily to the official opposition, the Conservatives, if an election were held now.