Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday, stepping down from both his role as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party. He will, however, remain as caretaker prime minister until the Liberal Party elects a new leader.
In a press conference, Trudeau stated his decision was driven by the prolonged paralysis of Parliament. He acknowledged the internal challenges within his party, asserting that these internal battles prevented him from effectively leading Canada, particularly given the Conservatives’ current lead in polls ahead of the upcoming election. He cited the length of the recent parliamentary session as a key factor contributing to this dysfunction, calling it the longest in Canadian history for a minority parliament. To address the immediate situation, Trudeau requested that Governor General Mary Simon prorogue Parliament until March 24th. This action will terminate the current session, suspending parliamentary proceedings until the designated date, but will allow the same representatives to reconvene for a new session upon its resumption.
Trudeau’s tenure as Liberal Party leader began in 2013, with his ascension to the prime ministership following in 2015. His resignation comes amidst mounting pressure fueled by a series of electoral setbacks, party scandals, and declining approval ratings. While the loss of the Toronto-St. Paul’s riding to the Conservatives in June marked a significant turning point, the pressure intensified after the 2016 election of Donald Trump as U.S. president. Concerns arose within Trudeau’s own party regarding his ability to navigate complex negotiations with the Trump administration, particularly amidst threats of increased tariffs on Canadian goods.
The final blow to Trudeau’s administration arrived with the December 16th resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland. In a strongly worded resignation letter, Freeland criticized Trudeau’s government for irresponsible spending on what she termed “costly political gimmicks,” particularly in light of the looming tariff threats. Trudeau’s downfall thus mirrors that of Germany’s “Traffic Light Coalition” government, which also collapsed in the wake of Trump’s election. Chancellor Olaf Scholz directly linked Trump’s victory to the fracturing of Germany’s ruling coalition. This unfolding situation is rapidly developing and will be updated as further information becomes available.