TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau After nearly 10 years in power, he announced his resignation on Monday, growing dissatisfaction It suggested there was growing turmoil within the government over his leadership. Sudden resignation of finance minister.
Prime Minister Trudeau becomes the latest incumbent to be ousted Rising voter dissatisfaction around the worldHe said it had become clear that he would not be able to become a leader in the next election due to internal conflicts. He intended to remain prime minister until a new Liberal leader was chosen.
“I don’t back down easily when faced with a fight, especially a fight of great importance to our party and our country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well-being of our democracy are the ones I want to fight.” It’s something I cherish,” said Prime Minister Trudeau, who was teary-eyed at first after hearing the announcement in front of the Prime Minister’s Office.
He said parliament, which was scheduled to resume on January 27, will be suspended until March 24. The timing will allow for a Liberal Party leadership election.
AP correspondent Haya Panjwani reports that Canadian leader Justin Trudeau is moving forward.
All three major opposition parties have indicated plans to overthrow the Liberal Party through a vote of no confidence once parliament resumes, making a spring general election almost certain after the Liberal Party elects a new leader.
“The Liberal Party of Canada is an important organization in the history of our great country and democracy. The new prime minister and Liberal leader will carry those values and ideals into the next election,” said Prime Minister Trudeau. . “I look forward to watching that process unfold over the coming months.”
Prime Minister Trudeau took power in 2015 after a decade of Conservative government and was initially praised for returning the country to its liberal past. But the 53-year-old scion of one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers has become deeply unpopular with voters in recent years over a variety of issues, including rising food and housing costs and a surge in immigration.
Opposition Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poièvre said in a recorded message posted to I can’t do it.” “But what has really changed? Every Liberal member currently in power and every potential Liberal leadership candidate vying for the top job, over the past nine years helped defeat the country.”
Other opposition leaders added their own criticism, including NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.
“It doesn’t matter who the next Liberal is. They let you down. They don’t deserve a second chance,” said Singh, a longtime supporter of Trudeau’s party.
Liberal Leader Sasit Mehra said in a statement that his party is “hugely grateful” to Trudeau for delivering “transformative progress” to Canadians, including $10-a-day child care, dental care and a national climate change plan. He said there was. Mehra said a meeting would be held this week to begin selecting a new leader.
The political change comes at a difficult time internationally for Canada. US President-elect Donald Trump threatened to impose 25% tariffs Tariffs on all Canadian products Trump has also threatened if the government does not stop what he calls the influx of immigrants and drugs in the United States, even though the number of immigrants entering the United States from Canada is far lower than from Mexico.
Canada is a major exporter of oil and natural gas to the United States, but it also relies on its northern neighbor for steel, aluminum and automobiles.
After Trudeau’s announcement, President Trump, who had been calling Canada the 51st province for weeks, did so again, saying on social media that the prime minister was resigning because Canada relies on subsidies from the United States to survive. erroneously claimed.
Prime Minister Trudeau has remained silent in public in recent weeks, despite mounting pressure to resign.
“His long silence after this political drama speaks volumes about the weakness of his current position,” said Daniel Behrand, a political science professor at McGill University in Montreal.
Former Canadian Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced her resignation from Trudeau’s cabinet on December 16, after criticizing some of Trudeau’s economic priorities in the face of threats from President Trump. The move, which came shortly after the housing minister resigned, stunned the nation and raised questions about how long the increasingly unpopular Prime Minister Trudeau would remain in office.
Prime Minister Freeland and Prime Minister Trudeau had different opinions on two recently announced policies. It plans to temporarily waive sales tax on products ranging from children’s clothing to beer and send checks of CAD 250 (about $174) to everyone. Freeland, who was also deputy prime minister, said Canada cannot afford “expensive political maneuvering” in the face of the threat of tariffs.
“Our nation faces significant challenges,” Freeland wrote in his resignation letter. “That means not depleting the fiscal spark today and securing the reserves that may be needed for the coming tariff war.”
Prime Minister Trudeau had planned to run for a fourth term despite his party’s discontent. Canada’s prime minister can remain in office as long as his government or party has the confidence of a majority of the House of Commons, but no Canadian prime minister has ever won four consecutive terms in more than 100 years.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s party recently experienced upheaval in special elections in two longstanding constituencies: Toronto and Montreal. And according to the latest polls, his chances of success looked slim. The latest Nanos poll shows the Liberals trailing the Conservatives 47% to 21%.
During his long tenure as prime minister, Trudeau embraced a set of ideals espoused by his Liberal base. He took a pro-immigration stance at a time when other countries were trying to strengthen their borders. He champions diversity and gender equality, appoint a cabinet It was an equal proportion of men and women. He legalized marijuana.
His efforts to balance economic growth and environmental protection have drawn criticism from both the right and the left. He imposed a tax on carbon emissions and rescued a stalled pipeline expansion project to get more of Alberta’s oil to international markets.
Canada has had fewer deaths from COVID-19 than other countries, and the government has provided significant financial support. But hostility grew among those opposed to mandatory vaccination. Flags with Trudeau’s name and expletives on them have become common in rural areas.
A combination of scandal and unpopular policies damaged his prospects over time.
Prime Minister Trudeau’s father came to power in 1968 and led Canada for almost 16 years, making his mark in Canada’s history by opening the country widely to immigrants. Pierre Trudeau is often compared to John F. Kennedy and is one of the few Canadian politicians still recognized in the United States.
Tall, handsome, and with movie star looks, Justin Trudeau channeled his father’s star power, if not his political clout.
He became the second-youngest prime minister in Canadian history, but when he first sought the office, his rivals said his age was a drawback. However, in 2015, he gained overwhelming confidence with a come-from-behind victory.
Prime Minister Trudeau is a former teacher, nightclub bouncer and snowboarding instructor who now has three children with his estranged wife, a former model and television host.
