Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he will resign as leader of the ruling Liberal Party after nine years in office but will remain as prime minister until the party selects a new leader.
Facing mounting pressure from Liberal legislators amid polling that predicts a significant loss in the next election, Trudeau stated during a news conference that Parliament would be suspended until March 24.
This timeline ensures Trudeau will still be in office on January 20 when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump assumes the presidency. Trump has warned of potential tariffs that could severely impact Canada’s economy.
“I plan to step down as party leader and prime minister once the party concludes a robust, nationwide leadership selection process,” Trudeau said. “This country deserves a genuine choice in the next election, and I’ve realized that internal conflicts prevent me from being the best candidate for that fight.”
Trudeau, 53, first assumed office in November 2015 and has since won reelection twice, making him one of Canada’s longest-serving prime ministers. However, his popularity began to wane two years ago due to public frustration over rising costs and a housing shortage, and he has struggled to regain favor.
Polls suggest the Liberals are likely to suffer a resounding defeat to the opposition Conservatives in the next election, regardless of the party leader.
Parliament was initially scheduled to reconvene on January 27, with opposition parties ready to challenge the government, potentially toppling it by late March. With the new suspension until March 24, the earliest a non-confidence motion could be brought forward would likely be May.
Trudeau had previously resisted calls from within his party to resign, even after the Liberals lost safe seats in two by-elections last year. However, pressure intensified last month after he attempted to demote Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, a trusted ally, following disagreements over spending proposals. Freeland resigned instead, accusing Trudeau in a public letter of prioritizing “political gimmicks” over the country’s needs.
The opposition Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre, appear poised to capitalize on the Liberals’ troubles. Poilievre, a career politician, gained prominence in early 2022 by supporting truck drivers who blockaded downtown Ottawa in protest of COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
