According to two Canadian newspapers, Justin Trudeau, facing a major political crisis, could announce his resignation shortly. Legislative elections are expected in October. What impact could this resignation have on these elections?
Tl;dr
- Justin Trudeau could resign due to political crisis.
- Liberal party sources anticipate his imminent withdrawal.
- Trudeau’s popularity has declined sharply recently.
Justin Trudeau about to leave his post?
The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeaufinds himself in a worrying political situation which could push him to resign. According to Canadian media, this decision could be announced as early as today, Monday January 6, 2025.
Internal sources anticipate his departure
Internal sources in the Liberal party anticipate the withdrawal of Justin Trudeau ahead of a national meeting of his party scheduled for Wednesday. The Globe and Mail et The Toronto Star reported this on Sunday, suggesting a possible announcement within the next 24 hours. The Prime Minister’s office, however, did not wish to comment on this information.
An uncertain political future
If this announcement is confirmed, it would come a few months before the next legislative elections scheduled for the end of October. However, the political future of Justin Trudeau, 53, remains uncertain. It is unclear whether he will remain his party’s interim leader or immediately leave the post if he resigns as prime minister.
Plummeting popularity
Justin Trudeau’s popularity has dropped significantly in recent months as his government narrowly survived a series of votes of no confidence. He is credited in the polls with more than 20 points behind his conservative rival, Pierre Poilievre. Moreover, his position was weakened by the withdrawal of his left-wing ally and growing discontent within his own party.
This situation has been exacerbated by the trade war with the United States. The Canadian political challenge has worsened following the declarations of Donald Trump, who promised to impose customs duties of 25% on Canada and Mexico upon his return to power in January. Justin Trudeau tried, unsuccessfully, to thwart these threats during a meeting with Donald Trump in Florida in November.
After almost a decade in power, Trudeau is now seen as responsible for the high inflation, housing crisis and public services that are hitting the country. His political future therefore seems more than uncertain.
