Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could resign this week

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, under pressure for weeks, could announce his resignation in the coming days, reports the newspaper The Globe and Mail. Citing three anonymous sources familiar with the party's internal affairs, the daily indicates that Justin Trudeau's announcement could come as early as this Monday. The announcement would be made ahead of a national meeting of his party scheduled for Wednesday, according to sources in the Globe and Mail.

The departure of Justin Trudeau would leave the party without a leader a few months before the next legislative elections which must be held by the end of October. When asked, the Prime Minister's office refused to comment on this information.

So far Justin Trudeau, who had announced his intention to run again, is credited in the polls with more than 20 points behind his conservative rival, Pierre Poilievre. A minority in Parliament, weakened by the withdrawal of his left-wing ally and the growing discontent within his own party, Justin Trudeau is facing the most serious political crisis since he came to power nine years ago.

Surprise resignation of the deputy prime minister

Chaos has reigned in the capital Ottawa since the surprise resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who disagreed with Justin Trudeau over how to manage the looming economic war with the United States. Donald Trump's statements in recent weeks have in fact aggravated the Canadian political crisis and caused a shock wave. The country is seeking a solution to the threats of Donald Trump, who promised to impose 25% customs duties on Canada and Mexico upon his return to power in January.

A low popularity rating

After nearly a decade in power, Justin Trudeau now suffers from low popularity ratings, being seen as responsible for the country's high inflation and the housing and public services crisis. Upon his arrival in 2015, the whole world observed with interest, even admiration, the first steps in power of Justin Trudeau, a young multilateralist leader who proclaimed that “Canada is back” on the international scene. Eldest son of the charismatic Pierre Elliott Trudeau, former Prime Minister who died in 2000, Justin Trudeau searched for his path for a long time: amateur boxer, snowboard instructor, English and French teacher… He finally followed in his father's footsteps and entered politics late in 2007, was elected MP for Montreal in 2008 then leader of a liberal party in tatters in 2013.

Prime Minister, he made Canada the second country in the world to legalize cannabis, introduced medical assistance in dying, a carbon tax, launched a public inquiry into missing and murdered indigenous women and will sign a modernized version of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).