Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation Monday in the face of rising discontent over his leadership, and after the abrupt departure of his finance minister signaled growing turmoil within his government.
Trudeau will stay on as prime minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party is chosen. Parliament will be suspended until March 24, allowing time for a Liberal Party leadership race. It had been due to resume January 27.
Trudeau was initially hailed for returning the country to its liberal past when he was elected in 2015, but he has become widely unpopular in recent years. The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada.
Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products if Canada does not stem what he calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the United States — even though far fewer of each cross into the US from Canada than from Mexico.
One person likely to seek power in the Liberal Party after Trudeau is Mark Carney, the former head of the Bank of Canada and later the Bank of England. Carney has long been interested in entering politics and becoming prime minister, and Trudeau tried to recruit him to join his government.
Carney in a post on X has thanked Trudeau for his contributions and sacrifices. He adds: “Wishing you the best for your next chapters.”
All three main opposition parties in Canada have said they plan to topple the Liberal Party in a no-confidence vote when Parliament resumes in late March.
Trudeau says Canada deserves a Parliament that functions. He says it has been “entirely seized” by what he calls obstruction and a total lack of productivity. He says this is the longest-serving minority government.
He had been the second-youngest prime minister in Canada’s history, and he had been planning to run for a fourth term in next year’s election even as discontent in his party grew. He says that “I have always been driven by my love for Canada.”
Trudeau says he has asked the president of his Liberal Party to begin the process to select a new leader.
Trudeau adds: “If I am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election” to come.
It is not immediately clear when nationwide elections will be held to pick a permanent replacement.
The official says Trudeau will stay on as prime minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party is chosen. (AP)
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