Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation as Liberal Party leader and Prime Minister on Monday, marking a significant shift in Canadian politics. Trudeau’s decision comes amid growing discontent over his leadership and the recent departure of his finance minister, which highlighted turmoil within his government.
Trudeau will serve as interim Prime Minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party is chosen. He stated that he intends to resign after the party selects its next leader through a “robust, nationwide, competitive process”. Trudeau’s resignation is seen as a response to his declining popularity, with the latest opinion polls showing the Liberals trailing the Conservatives 47% to 21%.
The Canadian Parliament’s upcoming session has been postponed from January 27 to March 24 to facilitate the leadership race. More than 24 individual MPs and several regional caucuses had been urging Trudeau to resign since before the holiday season.
Trudeau’s departure marks the end of an era for the Liberal Party, which he has led since 2013. His father, Pierre Trudeau, was a storied name in Canadian history, leading the country for almost 16 years and opening its doors to immigrants.
The development has sparked reactions from various quarters, with many calling for a quick election to put in place a government able to deal with the administration of President-elect Donald Trump. The Liberal Party will now begin the process of selecting a new leader, with Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc being considered as an interim leader.
