Justin Trudeau, who had been facing internal dissent within his party, has stepped down as Canada’s prime minister after nearly a decade in office. Announcing his resignation, Trudeau stated that he would vacate the position once the ruling Liberal Party selects his successor.
During a press conference, Trudeau declared: “I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister.” He had been under significant pressure from Liberal Party members to resign ahead of the federal elections, amid concerns that his leadership might jeopardize the party’s chances of reelection.
🚨 #BREAKING – JUSTIN TRUDEAU: “I intend to resign as [Liberal] Party leader, as Prime Minister [of Canada] after the party selects its next leader.”
Replacement elections to happen in the near future.
“If I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option.” pic.twitter.com/HPAh6FJHlT
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) January 6, 2025
“I hereby prorogue the Parliament until March 24 in order to initiate the process of finding a new leader to lead the party and Canada until elections scheduled for later this year,” Justin Trudeau announced.
As per Canada’s legislature, the ruling party has 90 days from the resignation of its leader to select a replacement.
Trudeau has been under mounting pressure from party members, as recent opinion polls indicate a significant surge in support for the opposition Conservative Party. With Canada heading to the polls later this year, a new government must be in place by October 20.
Trudeau is expected to serve as a caretaker prime minister until his successor is chosen—a process that could take anywhere from a few days to several months. His tenure has faced severe criticism for both internal political turbulence and the damage to Canada’s geopolitical standing.
A few months ago, Trudeau lost the backing of a key ally, leading to a vote of no-confidence in Parliament. While his government narrowly survived by securing fragile support from smaller parties, pressure intensified after his finance minister resigned in December over a policy disagreement.
The Canadian dollar, which had been in a steep decline since September and hit record lows, has shown signs of recovery following Trudeau’s decision to step down. Meanwhile, Canada’s economy faces compounding challenges, including slowing growth, high inflation, stagnant GDP, and faltering trade policies, further strained by threats of heavy tariffs from Donald Trump.
