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The move comes amid the worst political crisis of his nine-year term as the country’s prime minister
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he will step down as both party leader and prime minister once a new leader is selected. He explained that “internal battles” within the ruling Liberal Party have made it impossible for him to lead the party into the next election.
Trudeau made an announcement at his residence at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa on Monday. It follows weeks of mounting pressure from his own Liberal caucus and a dramatic decline in national poll numbers.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I am having to fight internal battles I cannot be the best option in that election,” Trudeau stated.
A general election must be held on or before this October 20. Trudeau announced that he has requested the president of the Liberal Party to initiate the process of choosing a new leader.
He also requested a prorogation of Parliament. This procedure temporarily suspends all parliamentary activities, including debates and votes, without dissolving Parliament, and would extend until March 24.
Parliament is currently on its scheduled holiday break, set to resume on January 27.
An announcement marked the first time he addressed reporters since former Finance minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland unexpectedly resigned from cabinet on December 16.
She stepped down following disputes over the government’s fiscal strategy in response to planned US tariffs. President-elect Donald Trump announced a 25% tariff on all Canadian imports in November, sparking economic and political tension.
Trudeau traveled to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate that month to avert a potential trade war, but his efforts appeared to backfire.
Trudeau came to power in 2015 and led the Liberals to two further victories in 2019 and 2021.
During his first two terms as prime minister, Trudeau ushered in Senate reforms, signed a new trade deal with the United States, and introduced a carbon tax to reduce Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions.
He also legalized cannabis, held a public inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women, and passed legislation permitting medically assisted suicide.
Recent polls indicate that the Liberals are trailing behind the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre. With inflation rising and his government’s policies under fire, opposition leaders and some Liberal MPs have urged him not to seek a fourth term.
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