Amid mounting pressure from within his own ranks, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has revealed plans to step down, ending his nine-year tenure as leader of the country.
Trudeau stated he would remain in office until the Liberal Party selects a new leader and announced the prorogation—or suspension—of parliament until 24 March.
“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,” he said during a press conference on Monday.
The prime minister’s declining popularity among Canadians has increasingly weighed down his party’s prospects ahead of federal elections set for later 2025.
The internal calls for Trudeau’s resignation intensified in December following the unexpected departure of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, a long-time ally. Freeland publicly criticized Trudeau for what she saw as a lackluster response to the looming threat of tariffs proposed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
In her resignation letter, Freeland accused Trudeau of failing to adequately confront the “grave challenge” posed by Trump’s tariff proposals.
Trump has pledged a 25% tax on Canadian imports unless stronger measures are taken to enhance border security—an economic threat experts say could deeply impact Canada’s economy.
At the time, Trudeau expressed disappointment in Freeland’s decision to leave her post, saying, “I had hoped she would have continued in her post, but she chose otherwise.”
Trudeau’s leadership has been further strained by the difficulty of maintaining a coalition government, with the Liberals relying on smaller parties for support as they govern with a minority.
The resignation of Freeland, coupled with rising inflation and soaring housing costs, prompted the Bloc Quebecois and the New Democrats to withdraw their backing.
The opposition Conservatives, meanwhile, have held a strong double-digit lead over the Liberals in recent polls.
Political analysts predict that if elections were held today, the Liberals would face a crushing defeat.
Recent special election losses in traditional Liberal strongholds like Toronto and Montreal have also signaled growing discontent among voters, compounding the party’s challenges.
With his party’s caucus set to meet on Wednesday, Trudeau preempted discussions by announcing his plan to step aside, allowing the Liberals to elect a new leader who can guide them into the upcoming elections.
