When he was elected leader of the Liberal Party in April 2013 (with 80% of the votes) and, even more so, when he brought it out of nothing (the Liberals, for the first time in their history, no longer represented as the third national force in the House of Commons) to lead him to victory in the federal election of October 19, 2015, Justin Trudeau had all the attributes of a savior. Born in 1971, he was young, handsome, eloquent and charismatic, in addition to being the heir to a prestigious dynasty – his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, was himself Prime Minister of Canada from April 1968 to June 1984 (apart from a break of a few months in 1979-1980).
Surprise in Canada: Prime Minister Trudeau could resign this week
A Canadian Barack Obama
His modern and progressive speech, centered on the rights of more fragile populations (women, minorities, First Nations, etc.), protection of the environment, the fight against climate change, even more than his economic credo, brought Justin Trudeau closer to a Barack Obama, just like his sense of the formula. When asked about the reasons for seeking parity between men and women in his government, he simply replied: “Because it’s 2015!”
However, it did not take long for the Prime Minister’s star to fade. It is true that he had to face unfavorable circumstances. The Covid-19 epidemic, of course, but also a complicated relationship with Donald Trump, as evidenced by the fiasco at the G20 summit held in La Malbaie, Quebec, in June 2018. The American president signed the final communiqué, before withdraw his signature once on his plane… While the two countries are each other’s most important trading partner, Trump criticized Canada for taking unfair advantage of the United States and wanted to impose sanctions customs.
Strong internal tensions
This is the same scenario that is looming in the months to come with Donald Trump’s promise to tax Canadian imports at 25%. A threat taken very seriously in Ottawa, where the response to be given divides the political class and caused a fatal clash between Justin Trudeau and his Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, who ended up slamming the door with a bang in December. This resignation caused a crisis of confidence and convinced a growing number of liberal elected officials to demand the departure of the head of government, against a backdrop of polls predicting a triumph of the conservative opposition in the next legislative elections.
Canada: Trudeau changes a third of his government in the midst of a political crisis and tensions with Trump
As in its American neighbor, inflation and immigration (accused of pushing up real estate prices) fuel discontent in Canada, despite the efforts made to help – too generously for the taste of some – households like businesses. Already deserted in September by its coalition partner, the New Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, a minority in Parliament since the fall 2021 elections, now risks having to go on the campaign trail without a real leader. The designation of Justin Trudeau’s successor could, in fact, take several months, knowing that the person responsible for a possible interim cannot himself seek the leadership of the party and, consequently, the position of Prime Minister if this is the case. party wins the elections.
