Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is anticipated to announce his resignation on Monday morning, marking a significant turning point in his nearly decade-long leadership of the Liberal Party. The 53-year-old leader has been at the helm since 2015 but will stay on as Prime Minister until a new leader is chosen. This decision comes amidst growing political challenges and declining popularity, influenced by both domestic and international factors.
Trudeau's impending resignation follows mounting calls for him to step down as the Liberal Party faces the possibility of losing power to the Conservative Party in an upcoming election. The election, mandated to occur by late October, is expected to see the Conservatives gain ground based on public polling. Trudeau's popularity has notably decreased in recent years, primarily over issues such as government spending and the rising cost of living, which have become focal points of public discontent.
The political climate has further been strained by tensions with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has needled Trudeau since winning the presidential election in November. Trump's provocative suggestion that Canada might become the 51st state of the United States added another layer of complexity to Canada-U.S. relations during Trudeau's tenure.
Adding to the internal discord, Chrystia Freeland, Trudeau's then-finance minister, resigned last month due to a deepening divide between her and Trudeau regarding the future direction of Canada's economy and strategies for handling the incoming Trump administration. This resignation highlighted internal fractures within Trudeau's administration.
Trudeau's decision to announce his resignation before the Liberal caucus meets on Wednesday is strategic, aiming to avoid any appearance of being ousted by his party members. His forthcoming announcement is seen as a preemptive move to maintain control over the narrative surrounding his departure.
Leave a Reply