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Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s popularity started to dip following the Covid-19 pandemic but inflation, price rise and tussle with India also played its part.
Trudeau was facing questions about lax immigration laws, rising crime and inflation but the prime minister of nearly 10 years faced criticism recently over his reaction to US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canadian imports. (AFP file)
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau on Monday announced to step down as Prime Minister and Canadian Liberal Party chief ahead of an election year where rivals Conservatives are polling ahead of their main rivals.
The 53-year-old leader said Parliament has been paralysed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority parliament in Canadian history.
“I am fighter. Every bone in body has told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians and this country. I intend to resign as party leader and prime minister after the party elects its new leader,” he said at a press conference in Ottawa.
“This morning, I advised the Governor General that we need a new session of parliament. She has granted this request, and the House will now be prorogued until March 24,” added.
Trudeau further listed his administration’s support for Ukraine and his policy during the Covid-19 pandemic, as being among his greatest achievements since he took power in 2015.
“We rallied to support each other through the pandemic … to stand strong with Ukraine, and our democracy, to fight climate change, and to get our economy ready for the future,” he added. “We are at a critical moment in the world.”
Trudeau was facing questions about lax immigration laws, rising crime and inflation but the prime minister of nearly 10 years faced criticism recently over his reaction to US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Canadian imports.
His popularity also waned in recent months, with his government narrowly surviving a series of no-confidence votes and critics calling for his resignation.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland quit in December after disagreeing with Trudeau over how to respond to Trump’s apparent plan, in the first open dissent against the prime minister within his cabinet.
Trudeau announced a major shakeup to his cabinet later that month, changing a third of his team in a bid to settle the political turmoil.
He traveled to Florida in November to meet with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in a bid to head off a trade war.
But the US president-elect has since also landed humiliating blows against Trudeau on social media, repeatedly calling him “governor” of Canada and declaring that the United States’ northern neighbor becoming the 51st US state is a “great idea.”
Trudeau swept to power in 2015 and led the Liberals to two more ballot box victories in 2019 and 2021.