Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he will resign as the leader of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party, which will kick off a contest to replace him as prime minister. Trudeau stated that he intends to step down as party leader and prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a competitive process. This decision comes after pressure from within his own party due to the Liberal’s lagging behind in opinion polls and internal disagreements over his handling of President-elect Donald Trump, which led to the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland last month. Freeland cited concerns over the Trudeau administration’s cooperative approach to Trump’s plan to increase import tariffs on Canadian goods by 25%. Trudeau, who has been in power for nine years, emphasized his commitment to fighting for the middle class but has faced criticism for issues such as high inflation and political chaos.
Trump has criticized Trudeau and Canada, threatening tariffs and making remarks about making Canada the 51st state. The Liberals currently hold 153 seats in the House of Commons, and elections will be held by late October. The party’s popularity has declined, with voter support hitting an all-time low of 16%. Trudeau’s resignation reflects growing discontent within the party and among Canadian voters. Please stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com