Facing growing and unrelenting pressure from his own party, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced he will step down and end his nine-year stretch as leader.
His personal unpopularity with Canadians had become an increasing drag on his party’s fortunes in advance of federal elections later this year.
Trudeau then said he would stay on in office until his Liberal Party can choose a new leader, and that parliament would be prorogued – or suspended – until March 24.
He said at a press conference in Ottawa on Monday: “This country deserves a real choice in the next election and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.
“Last night, over dinner, I told my kids about the decision that I’m sharing with you today.
“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide competitive process.”
The president of the Liberal Party, Sachit Mehra, said a meeting of the party’s board of directors would be held this week to begin the process of selecting a new leader.
However, Trudeau on Monday told reporters that opposition leader Pierre Poilievre’s vision for the country “doesn’t make sense.”
“His vision for this country is not the right one for Canadians. Stopping the fight against climate change doesn’t make sense,” Trudeau said in a news conference in Ottawa. “We need an ambitious, optimistic view of the future. And Pierre Poilievre is not offering that.”
Trudeau’s comments came as announced his decision to step down as leader of the ruling Liberal party following a series of political crises. The party is widely expected to lose a general election later this year to the opposition Conservative Party, helmed by right-wing firebrand Poilievre.
Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press/AP