Backed by the wall, the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has faced the facts: he will step down as Liberal leader as soon as a successor is chosen. But first, he successfully asked the Governor General to prorogue Parliament.
“It has become clear that I cannot be leader in the next election because of internal battles,” he said Monday morning during a press conference held in the freezing cold in front of Rideau Cottage. , his official residence.
In front of the media, Mr. Trudeau described himself as “a fighter” who does not back down “so easily from a fight” and that he does “this job” because he cares about “the interest of Canadians and the well-being of our country, of our democracy.
He said he had during the holidays “the opportunity to reflect and have long conversations” with his family. “So last night at dinner I shared with my children the decision that I share with all of you today: I intend to resign as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and as Prime Minister once the party has chosen its next leader following a national, rigorous and competitive process,” he announced.
Mr. Trudeau had been dumped by the main regional caucuses of his political party during the holidays, including his deputy prime minister and Minister of Finance, Chrystia Freeland, who slammed the door of the cabinet in mid-December on the very morning of the presentation of its economic statement.
The prime minister, in power for nearly ten years, risked being shown the door during a revolt in his caucus which would likely have taken place during a meeting scheduled for Wednesday.
He has also been touching the bottom of voting intentions for almost two years, while polls continue to place the Liberals far behind the Conservatives in anticipation of the next federal elections, which must take place in the fall at the latest.
“The country deserves a clear and real choice in the next elections,” the Prime Minister insisted on Monday.
