Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has declared he will not participate in the upcoming federal elections scheduled for October.
Last week, he resigned as Prime Minister once his Liberal Party selected a new leader. “In terms of my own decisions, I will not be running in the upcoming election,” Trudeau stated during a press conference in Ottawa.
Trudeau shared that he has not yet planned his post-political career, emphasizing his commitment to his current responsibilities. “As to what I might be doing later, I honestly haven’t had much time to think about that. I am entirely focused on doing the job Canadians elected me to do at this extraordinarily pivotal time,” he remarked.
His announcement comes amid discussions with Canada’s premiers, the U.S. ambassador, and federal cabinet ministers on responding to the U.S.’s tariff threats.
After over nine years as Prime Minister, Trudeau felt mounting pressure to resign from both the opposition and members of his party, especially following the resignation of his finance minister, Chrystia Freeland. He confirmed he’ll step down after a new party leader is chosen through a “competitive process.”
The leadership race is gearing up, with notable Liberals, including former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, expected to be front-runners. Candidates interested in running must formally declare their intentions and submit an initial payment by January 23. The new leader will be announced on March 9.
Trudeau plans to continue serving as Prime Minister until the conclusion of the Liberal leadership election in March and will remain a member of Parliament until the next federal elections. However, he will not return as an MP in the new Parliament if he does not run and secure a seat in the election.
