Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Steps Down as Liberal Party Leader
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation as head of the country’s Liberal Party, bringing weeks of speculation about his political future to an end. In Canada, the leader of the party with the most seats in Parliament holds the position of prime minister.
Trudeau will remain as prime minister until his party selects a new leader, which is expected to happen within the next two months. Additionally, a general election must be held by October to determine Canada’s next government.
In a Monday morning press conference, Trudeau, who has led the Liberal Party since 2013 and served as prime minister since 2015, stated his intention to resign from both positions after the party chooses its new leader through an extensive, nationwide process. Initially popular upon taking office, Trudeau’s approval ratings have declined due to challenges like inflation following the Covid-19 pandemic and criticism of the government’s immigration and environmental policies.
The writing was on the wall for Trudeau’s departure when his former deputy Chrystia Freeland resigned as finance minister last month. Her resignation letter included criticism of Trudeau’s ability to navigate the proposed US tariffs on Canadian goods during the Trump administration.
Trudeau’s resignation raises questions about the future of the Liberal Party and Canada itself. As voters around the world have shown, no leader is immune to changing political tides. The upcoming leadership race and general election will shape the country’s trajectory in the coming years.