Embattled premier Justin Trudeau said he would step down as the leader of Liberal Party after nine years in office.
An increasing number of Liberal lawmakers, unnerved by a succession of gloomy polls, have publicly urged Trudeau to quit.
“I intend to resign as party leader as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide competitive process,” Trudeau said in public remarks on Monday. He added that he tasked the party the night before with starting the process to replace him.
Trudeau also said that parliament would be prorogued until March 24.
The prime minister will remain in office until a new leader is chosen for the Liberal Party, which he has chaired since 2013.
The 53-year-old leader’s time in office, since November 2015, makes him among the longest-serving Canadian prime ministers.
Why is Justin Trudeau resigning?
Trudeau has been under heavy pressure from Liberal lawmakers to step down, with polls suggesting the party will be crushed at the coming election, due to be held later this year.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” Trudeau said.
The prime minister enjoyed large support for a big part of his tenure, managing to be re-elected twice. However, his popularity started to dwindle some two years ago, with public anger rising due to high prices and a housing shortage.
Since 2019, Trudeau has only managed to form minority governments.
“I don’t easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this jobbecause the interests of Canadians and the well being of democracy is something that I hold dear,” he said.
The prime minister’s woes intensified last December, when his finance minister and one of his closest allies, over differences on economic policy.
Trudeau refused on Monday to comment on details of what caused Freeland’s resignation.
Trudeau’s Monday announcement means he will still be prime minister on January 20, when US President-elect Donald Trump will be inaugurated. Trump has threatened to impose tariffs that could cripple Canada’s economy.
The opposition Conservatives are expected to win the coming elections, which would make leader Pierre Poilevre the next Canadian prime minister.
Trudeau said that he recognized Poilievre’s “vision” for the country, but said it was “not the right path” for Canada.
rmt,rc/wd (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)
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