Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, announced his resignation on Monday, following increased dissatisfaction with his leadership and the sudden departure of his Finance Minister, which highlighted turmoil within his government, reports RFE.
Trudeau stated that “internal battles” meant he could “no longer be the best option” for the upcoming elections. He confirmed that he would remain as prime minister until the Liberal Party elects a new leader.
A source told the Associated Press under anonymity that the Canadian Parliament, which was scheduled to resume on January 27, would be suspended until March 24. This will give the Liberal Party time to select a new leader.
Trudeau, who came to power in 2015 after a decade of Conservative rule, initially garnered praise for restoring the country’s liberal past. However, over the years, he became increasingly unpopular with voters, especially due to rising food and housing prices and a large influx of immigrants.
The former Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, resigned from Trudeau’s cabinet on December 16, criticizing some of his economic priorities. This move shook the nation and raised questions about how much longer Trudeau could remain in office.
Despite growing dissatisfaction within the Liberal Party, Trudeau had planned to run for a fourth term in next year’s elections. However, recent poll results show his chances of success are slim. According to the latest Nanos poll, the Liberals trail the Conservatives, 47% to 21%.
Throughout his nearly ten years in office, Trudeau embraced a variety of causes favored by his liberal base, such as supporting immigration while other nations tightened their borders, advocating for diversity and gender equality, and legalizing cannabis. However, his efforts to balance economic growth and environmental protection faced criticism from both the left and right.
Despite Canada’s relatively low COVID-19 death toll, Trudeau’s government faced increasing hostility over mandatory vaccination measures, and his popularity declined due to a series of scandals and unpopular policies.
