Faced with the most serious political crisis since coming to power nine years ago, Justin Trudeau announced Monday, January 6, his intention to resign from his post as Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada when his political party has designated his substitute.
“I am a fighter, every fiber of my being tells me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians”assured Justin Trudeau. But, he noted, the political crisis prevents him from continuing to govern and forces him to “ resign from the head of the party and the post of prime minister when the party has chosen its next leader.”
This decision is not a surprise: the newspapers The Globe and Mail et The Toronto Starrelying on sources within the Liberal party, expected the Prime Minister to step down before his party’s national meeting on Wednesday.
Justin Trudeau’s announcement comes a few months before the next legislative elections which must be held by the end of October. So far, the Prime Minister, who had announced his intention to run again, is credited in the polls with more than 20 points behind his conservative rival, Pierre Poilievre.
Plummeting popularity
With a minority in Parliament, the Canadian Prime Minister is weakened by the withdrawal of his left-wing ally and the growing discontent within his own party.
His popularity has waned in recent months as his government narrowly survived a series of votes of no confidence and his critics called for his resignation. After nearly a decade in power, the Canadian Prime Minister is seen as responsible for the high inflation hitting the country as well as the housing and public services crisis.
Furthermore, chaos has reigned in Ottawa since the surprise resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who disagreed with Justin Trudeau on how to manage the looming economic war with the United States.
Barely elected, Donald Trump promised to impose 25% customs duties on Canada and Mexico when he returned to power in January. Justin Trudeau traveled to Florida in November to meet with him at his Mar-a-Lago property to avoid a trade war.
But since then, Donald Trump, who will take office as president of the United States on January 20, has dealt humiliating blows to Justin Trudeau on social networks, calling him several times “governor” you Canada.
