The opposition party in Canada elected an anti-establishment politician as its new leader on Saturday.

Pierre Poilievre is a populist instigator who opposes vaccine mandates and blames global inflation on Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The character won leadership of the party in the first round, in which he prevailed over a moderate and centrist candidate with 68% of the votes cast by the members.

Poilievre, 43, is a career politician and was a minister in the government of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper. He welcomed Canadians who oppose vaccine mandates and supported the Freedom Truck caravan that brought the Canadian capital to a halt and blocked the US border.

“Tonight begins the journey to replace a tired government with one that puts you first,” Poilievre said. “To tackle inflation and take control of your money and your life.”

Poilievre drifted into the ranks of the party, drawing large crowds and recruiting thousands of new members.

Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, said an appropriate comparison for Polievre might be Republican Senator Ted Cruz, but without the anti-abortion policy.

“He’s a right-wing populist,” Wiseman explained. “Most Canadians are now moving away from his populism, but he will tone down some of his views and soften his language and image. I hope the next election will be about the incumbent leader, someone with a growing political baggage.”

Wiseman stressed that if his rhetoric holds up, he could fall in the polls. “It’s a big win for Poilievre, but the Conservative members are not a true reflection of the general population,” he said.

Poilievre, who ran his campus conservative club while in college, has been a member of parliament since he was 25.