Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he intends to resign from his position, ending nearly nine years in power. He will remain in office until a new leader of the Liberal Party is chosen.
Trudeau’s decision comes amid increasing pressure for him to step down before an upcoming election, which his party is predicted to lose badly.
Trudeau has had a complicated and often adversarial relationship with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who is set to be sworn in later this month.
In a news conference, Trudeau expressed his admiration for the resilience, generosity, and determination of Canadians, stating that these qualities have inspired him every day during his tenure
The announcement precedes an emergency meeting of Liberal legislators scheduled for Wednesday. Trudeau also revealed that parliament would be suspended until March 24.
He emphasized that the country deserves a real choice in the next election and acknowledged that internal battles within his party have hindered his ability to be the best option for leadership.
Trudeau, 53, has led Canada’s Liberal Party for 11 years and served as prime minister for nine. He took over as Liberal leader in 2013 when the party was in third place in the House of Commons.
Under his leadership, the Liberals regained power in 2015 with a progressive agenda focused on women’s rights and climate change.
Calls for Trudeau to step aside have intensified since December, following a series of polls indicating that his party would be heavily defeated in the next election due to voter dissatisfaction over high prices and a housing crisis.
Additionally, Trudeau has faced several crises, including the abrupt resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canadian goods.
More than 50 Liberal members of parliament from Ontario, the party’s main stronghold, agreed on December 21 that Trudeau should step down.
In an attempt to manage the situation, Trudeau travelled to West Palm Beach, Florida, in late November to meet with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate, days after Trump announced plans to impose a 25% tariff on all products from Canada and Mexico4.
Trudeau has often clashed with Trump, who has mocked him as the “governor” of Canada and joked about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state.
Trudeau’s resignation leaves the Liberal Party without a permanent leader ahead of the general election, which must be held by October 20.
This move is expected to prompt calls for an earlier election to establish a stable government capable of dealing with the Trump administration.
