Canada’s Trudeau resigns as party leader and prime minister

Justin Trudeau said on Monday he plans to step down as leader of his governing Liberal Party and as Canada’s prime minister after nearly a decade as the head of the government.

Trudeau made the announcement in a speech from his Rideau Cottage residence in Ottawa, after weeks of mounting pressure from inside and outside his party.

He will continue on as prime minister – a position he has held for nine years – until a new party leader is chosen.

“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process,” he said.

Trudeau said he had asked the governor general to prorogue, or suspend, parliament until March 24. She granted the request this morning, he added. The suspension will allow for the Liberals to hold the leadership race to replace Trudeau.

“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.”

Trudeau, 53, has led the Liberal Party for 11 years and was celebrated by many progressives around the world as a beacon of hope when he became prime minister in November 2015.

He is credited with leading Canada forward on issues like the climate crisis, gender equality and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.

But several political scandals, such as suppressed corruption investigations, tarnished his image at time when Canada’s economy was also struggling.

Criticism of the prime minister has increased sharply of late, with people accusing him of failing to contain high prices or provide enough housing in the country.

The New Democratic Party, with which the Liberal Party had previously worked to pass legislation, withdrew its support in him in September and threatened a vote of no confidence.

Trudeau’s minority government was then dealt a major blow by the resignation last month of finance minister Chrystia Freeland after the two close allies clashed over economic policy.

A general election must be held in Canada by October 20, but an early election could be forced, for example by a vote of no confidence.

The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, is currently polling at around 40%, with the Liberal Party hovering around 20%.