According to a source cited by Reuters, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau may soon announce his resignation as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party after nine years in office, though the final decision has not been made.
Meanwhile, sources cited by the Globe and Mail speculated that Trudeau might do so before an emergency meeting of Liberal legislators scheduled for Wednesday. It remains unclear, according to the report, whether he would step down immediately or stay on as prime minister until a new Liberal leader is chosen.
Trudeau was once seen as a promising leader with a progressive agenda focused on women’s rights and climate change. This also followed his successful effort to revive the Liberal Party, which he had taken over in 2013 when it was in decline.
However, he has faced growing pressure to step down since December, following his attempt to demote Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, a close cabinet ally, after she opposed his proposals for increased spending. Freeland responded by resigning and accusing him of engaging in “political gimmicks.”
Furthermore, his leadership has also been criticized over the massive influx of immigrants, which strained an overheated housing market, and the soaring prices that persisted despite heavy government spending to protect consumers and businesses.
Nevertheless, his departure would leave the Liberal Party to face the upcoming election, scheduled for late October, without a permanent leader, at a time when polls show the Liberals trailing significantly behind the opposition Conservatives.
Additionally, there could be calls for a quick election to establish a stable government capable of managing relations with President-elect Donald Trump’s administration over the next four years. Trudeau has reportedly discussed with Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc the possibility of him serving as interim leader and prime minister; however, a source noted this might be unworkable.
