MIAMI, United States. – Justin Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister of Canada since 2015, announced this Monday his intention to resign as party leader and head of government before the next general election, scheduled for October 20 or before.
Trudeau, 53, will continue in office on an interim basis until the Liberal Party elects his successor.
“I intend to resign as party leader, and as prime minister, after the party elects its new leader,” declared Trudeau during a press conference in Ottawa. The announcement comes amid growing political pressure, unfavorable polls and the abandonment of key figures in his government.
The Liberal Party faces a complicated panorama ahead of the elections. Polls show a wide advantage for the opposition Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, who has managed to consolidate an advantage of more than 20% in the averages of voting intention.
Trudeau, elected in 2015 with the promise of “sunny roads,” says goodbye after a term marked by progressive measures such as the fight against climate change and reconciliation with indigenous peoples, although he also faced economic and political discontent.
The party’s situation was aggravated by the recent resignation of Chrystia Freeland, deputy prime minister and finance minister, who harshly criticized Trudeau’s policies in her resignation letter. Freeland said the recent tax breaks and rebates for workers were pre-election “political tricks” that Canada “could not afford” in a difficult economic context. His departure has left the Liberal Party without a weighty figure in the government.
Trudeau’s political future has also been overshadowed by external threats, including the announced imposition of a 25% tariff on Canadian products by the incoming administration of donald trump in the United States. Trump, who will resume the presidency on January 20, has intensified his rhetoric against Trudeau, whom he referred to on social media as the “governor of the Great State of Canada.”
Trudeau leaves office having won three consecutive elections, although in 2021 he lost his parliamentary majority, weakening the Liberal Party’s ability to govern effectively. Throughout his term, Trudeau promoted a progressive agenda, but his popularity has been declining due to economic difficulties and widespread discontent.
“You’re not really doing anything for us, Justin,” was the comment of a steel worker who It went viral several months ago and that captured the growing discontent among Canadians.
