Canada’s former ‘golden boy’ Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he will step down as leader of the ruling Liberals after nine years in office.
The announcement on Monday morning (local time) came after months of pressure from within Trudeau’s own party to quit over fears it would be wiped out at the next election.
Incoming US president Donald Trump helped drive the final nail in Trudeau’s coffin with his pledge to impose tariffs that would cripple Canada’s economy.
Trudeau’s response to the tariff threat drove a wedge between him and Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland, one of his closest cabinet allies. She sensationally quit last month.
In his resignation speech outside his official residence, Trudeau said he would stay on in his post until the Liberals chose a replacement.
Parliament will be suspended until March 24.
That means Trudeau will still be Prime Minister on January 20 when Trump takes office as US president.
“I intend to resign as party leader and as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide competitive process,” Trudeau said.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”
Trudeau, 53, took office in November 2015 and won re-election twice, becoming one of Canada’s longest-serving prime ministers.
But his popularity started dipping two years ago amid public anger about high prices and a housing shortage. His fortunes have never recovered.
Polls suggest the Liberals will badly lose to the official opposition Conservatives in an election that must be held by late October, regardless of who the leader is.
Trump responded to Trudeau’s resignation by suggesting Canada should come the 51st US state.
“If Canada merged with the US, there would be no Tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese Ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great Nation it would be!!!” Trump posted to Truth Social.
“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive Trade Deficits and Subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned.”
Calls for Trudeau to step aside have soared since last month when he tried to demote his deputy and finance minister Freeland after she pushed back against his proposals for more spending.
Freeland quit instead and wrote a letter accusing Trudeau of “political gimmicks” rather than focusing on what was best for the country. She warned that Trump’s 25 percent tariffs posed a “grave challenge” for the Canadian economy.
Parliament was due to resume on January 27 and opposition parties had vowed to bring down the government as soon as they could, most likely at the end of March.
But if parliament does not return until March 24, the earliest a non-confidence motion could be presented would be some time in May.
-with AAP
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