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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce yesterday that he will step down as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, Canadian media reports, ahead of a general election to be held later this year that he is widely expected to lose.
Trudeau will likely announce his resignation before a key national caucus meeting on Wednesday, sources told the Globe and Mail and Reuters. However, the sources stressed Trudeau has not made a final decision.
Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party for 11 years and Prime Minister for nine, is facing a mounting set of crises, from Donald Trump’s tariff threats to the resignation of key allies and disastrous opinion polls. His resignation would be seen as the PM choosing to jump before he is pushed.
The move would leave the Liberal Party without a permanent leader before the general election, where polls show it is set to badly lose to the opposition Conservative Party, led by the firebrand Pierre Poilievre. The election must be held on or before October 20, but could be brought forward.
It is unclear if Trudeau would also step down immediately as Prime Minister or remain in post until a new leader is selected. The Liberal Party national executive, which controls leadership issues, is scheduled to meet this week, likely after the caucus.
Trudeau’s Government was rocked by the surprise resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland – just hours before she was due to deliver her annual fiscal update. (CNN)
