The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced this evening (Monday) his resignation from the position of leader of the ruling Liberal Party in the country. He stated that he will continue to serve as prime minister until a new leader is elected.
Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party for 11 years and prime minister for nine, has faced a series of escalating crises — from Donald Trump’s threats of tariffs to the resignation of key allies and catastrophic polls.
“I intend to resign as party leader and prime minister after the party elects a new leader,” Trudeau, 53, said at a press conference in the capital, Ottawa.
His resignation opens a succession battle to replace him after about a decade in which he led the party and the country. The move comes as Canada grapples with US President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to impose crippling tariffs on all Canadian imports on his first day in office. Canada and the United States are each other’s largest trading partners.
Trudeau visited Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in late November, and his government held talks about the president-elect’s concerns about border security between the states, hoping that he withdraw from the threats to impose tariffs.
Over the past few weeks, Trudeau has faced increasing pressure from within his own party. In December, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned amid sharp criticism of his leadership, prompting growing voices among liberal MPs who called for him to vacate his seat in favor of a new leader who will face the Conservatives in the general election.
The leader of the conservative party, Pierre Peuillibert, who is leading in the polls for prime minister, is a clear supporter of Israel. Since October 7, he has accused the Trudeau government of submitting to the dictates of Hamas, expressing unreserved support for Israel and hoping that it would attack Iran and eliminate its nuclear program.
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