After facing intense pressure to resign, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced today that he would step down after nearly ten years in office.
The 53-year-old leader stated that he would remain in his position until his party, the left-wing Liberal Party, selects a successor.
This decision follows a series of urgent calls for Trudeau to leave office in recent weeks, spurred by concerning polling data that revealed a significant drop in his popularity.
Recent surveys have shown that his party would face a decisive defeat against the opposition Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, in an election that must take place by the end of October.
Trudeau, who has held office since 2015, has seen his approval ratings sink dramatically in recent years, driven by several issues including rising costs of living, such as food and housing.
Calls for his resignation gained further traction after his former finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, unexpectedly resigned last month.
Freeland’s surprise departure came after Trudeau attempted to reduce her influence when she opposed his plans for increased government spending.
In a sharp letter, Freeland accused Trudeau of prioritizing “political gimmicks” over the well-being of Canada’s economy.
The political instability also coincides with a looming threat from Donald Trump’s administration, particularly the potential imposition of 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods.
Trump, who has persistently criticized Trudeau since winning the US presidency, warned that if Canada fails to address what he calls an influx of migrants and drugs crossing the border, he would levy these tariffs.
Trudeau, the son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, assumed leadership of the Liberal Party in 2013 when it was in disarray, relegated to third place in the House of Commons for the first time in history.
He successfully led the Liberals to victory in 2015 with a promise of “sunny ways” and a progressive agenda focused on women’s rights and combating climate change.
Trudeau went on to secure two more reelections, solidifying his place as one of the longest-serving prime ministers in Canadian history.
{Matzav.com}