TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s opposition Conservative Party elected an anti-establishment politician as its new leader on Saturday.

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

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

Poilievre, 43, is a career politician and served as a cabinet minister in former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government. He welcomed Canadians who oppose vaccination mandates and supported the Freedom Truck caravan that crippled the Canadian capital and blocked the US border.

“Tonight begins the journey to replace a tired government with a government that puts you first,” Poilievre said. “To fight inflation and put you in charge of your money and your life.”

Poilievre floated through the party ranks, drawing large crowds and recruiting thousands of new members.

Nelson Wiseman, a professor of political science at the University of Toronto, said a suitable comparison for Polevre might be Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, but without the anti-abortion politics.

“He’s a right-wing populist,” Wiseman explained. “Most Canadians are now recoiling from his populism, but he will tone down some of his positions and soften his language and image. I hope the next election will focus on the incumbent leader, someone with a growing political background.

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

Poilievre, who led his campus Conservative club when he was in college, has been an MP since he was 25.