Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, citing "internal battles" within his party, paving the way for a new prime minister to take office.
Trudeau stated that he will stay on as prime minister until a new leader is chosen through a “robust, nationwide” process. Speaking on his decision, Trudeau said Canadians “deserve a clear choice in the next election,” but acknowledged that ongoing party infighting had undermined his ability to confront political rivals. His resignation marks the end of an era for Trudeau, who has led the Liberal Party for over a decade and served as prime minister since 2015.
Trudeau also announced that Parliament, originally scheduled to resume on 27 January, will be prorogued until 24 March. Opposition parties had vowed to bring down Trudeau’s government as soon as parliamentary sessions resumed, amplifying the pressure on his leadership.
The Liberal Party now faces a critical challenge to select a new leader as polls indicate they are losing ground to the opposition Conservatives, led by Pierre Poilievre. An election must be held by late October, setting the stage for a fierce political battle.
Sachit Mehra, president of the Liberal Party, announced plans to convene a meeting of the National Board this week to begin the process of selecting a new leader.
“Liberals across the country are immensely grateful to Justin Trudeau for more than a decade of leadership to our party and the country," Mehra said in a statement. He praised Trudeau for rebuilding the Liberal Party, describing it as "the most open and inclusive movement in Canadian politics."
“We thank him for his service to Canada, and we look forward to his continued leadership until a new leader is chosen,” Mehra added.
Several prominent figures have already expressed interest or weighed in on Trudeau’s resignation. Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, thanked Trudeau for his leadership, as did Christy Clark, former premier of British Columbia.
The leader of the official opposition, Pierre Poilievre, responded to Trudeau’s announcement by stating, “Nothing has changed,” and emphasised that his party remains committed to presenting an alternative vision for Canada. In his resignation speech, Trudeau took aim at Poilievre, warning that the Conservative leader’s vision “is not the right one for Canadians.”
Other opposition leaders also reacted strongly. Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party (NDP), declared that the Liberals “do not deserve another chance, no matter who is the leader.” Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois, called for a general election to be held as soon as possible.
Read more from The Guardian here and the BBC here.