Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has declared he will resign as leader of the Liberal Party after nine years. However, he will continue as Prime Minister until a new leader is selected.
Facing increasing pressure from his party amid declining poll numbers, Trudeau announced at a press conference that he would step down, emphasizing the need for fresh leadership to present a viable option in the upcoming elections. Trudeau will remain Prime Minister throughout the transition.
The Parliament will suspend sessions until March 24, postponing Trudeau’s departure and possibly extending his tenure past the usual parliamentary resumption scheduled for January 27. This delay also pushes any potential no-confidence votes to possibly as late as May.
Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation as leader of the Liberal Party, effectively ending his time as Canada’s Prime Minister after almost 10 years.
He will remain in-power until a replacement party leader has been allocated. pic.twitter.com/VUwNeY2ayq
— Pop Base (@PopBase) January 6, 2025The announcement follows a tumultuous period marked by public dissatisfaction with economic issues such as rising prices and housing shortages, significantly diminishing Trudeau’s popularity. Despite winning re-election twice since his 2015 induction, recent polls predict a severe defeat for the Liberals in the next general election against the Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre.
Read: Justin Trudeau to Resign as Liberal Party Leader
Trudeau’s leadership saw further complications following an internal conflict with Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, who resigned after opposing his spending proposals, criticizing them as political manoeuvres rather than solutions for national welfare.
