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Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation as Liberal Party leader. He will remain as Canadian prime minister until the party has chosen a successor.
It’s the end of a nine-year stint in office, as pressure grew from within his Liberal Party which is trailing significantly behind the opposition Conservatives in the polls.
Trudeau made the announcement from his Rideau Cottage residence.
“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process,” Trudeau said Monday. “This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”
A row broke out inside Trudeau’s party after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced a proposal to introduce 25 percent tariffs on the country.
Trump pressed on with his taunts referring to Canada as the 51st state following the announcement.
“Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland unexpectedly stepped down in mid-December, citing differences with Trudeau on how to approach Trump’s presidency and tariff proposals.
Canada is due to hold a general election on or before 20 October.
What happens now that Justin Trudeau has resigned?
“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust nationwide, competitive process,” Trudeau said on Monday.
Now, the Liberal Party will decide on its next leader by holding a contest to decide who will succeed Trudeau. Until they do so, Trudeau will remain prime minister.
Ariana Baio7 January 2025 03:00
Trudeau announces resignation speech at Rideau Cottage
Justin Trudeau announced his resignation Monday.
“Last night, over dinner, I told my kids about the decision that I sharing with you today,” he said.
“I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process,” he added. “Last night, I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process. This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I am having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.”
Gustaf Kilander7 January 2025 02:00
Trudeau: ‘I’ve fought for this country’
Justin Trudeau took to the podium Monday, saying “Every morning I’ve woken up as prime minister, I’ve been inspired by the resilience, the generosity and the determination of Canadians.”
He added: “It is the driving force of every single day I have the privilege of serving in this office, that is why, since 2015 I’ve fought for this country, for you, to strengthen and grow the middle class, why we rallied to support each other through the pandemic, to advance reconciliation, to defend free trade on this continent, to stand strong with Ukraine and our democracy and to fight climate change and get our economy ready for the future.”
“We are at a critical moment in the world,” he argued.
Gustaf Kilander7 January 2025 01:00
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepping down as party leader after nearly 10 years in office
“Throughout the course of my career, any success I have personally achieved has been because of their support and with their encouragement,” Trudeau said.
“So last night over dinner, I told my kids about the decision that I’m sharing with you today. I intend to resign as party leader as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process.”
Rachel Clun, Rhian Lubin Monday7 January 2025 00:15
Justin Trudeau: Photo collection
Gustaf Kilander6 January 2025 23:30
Justin Trudeau’s resignation speech blows away seconds before announcement
Canada’s Prime Minister was forced to resign off the cuff after his notes blew away seconds before his planned resignation announcement on Monday.
“I’ll wing it,” Justin Trudeau said, as he watched his notes fly from the lectern standing outside his residence in Ottawa.
Trudeau announced he would be stepping down as prime minister, and leader of Canada’s Liberal Party, after nearly ten years in power.
A row had broken out inside Trudeau’s party after US President-elect Donald Trump announced a proposal to introduce 25 percent tariffs on Canada.
Caspar Barnes6 January 2025 22:45
Why Justin Trudeau resigned after nine years as Canadian Prime Minister
Facing low approval ratings in part due to the cost of living crisis, signs were mounting that Canadians had lost faith in the Liberal Party, which Trudeau has led as prime minister since 2015.
But internal confidence plummeted in mid-December, when Chrystia Freeland, the deputy prime minister and head of finance, unexpectedly resigned citing disagreements over the handling of Trump’s proposed 25 percent tariffs on the country – an issue that could damage the economy.
Ariana Baio6 January 2025 22:00
Possible successors: Dominic LeBlanc
The minister of finance and intergovernmental affairs is one of Trudeau’s closest allies. During times of disorder, he has been entrusted with politically difficult responsibilities.
Having been in parliament for more than 20 years, he previously ran to be the leader of the Liberal Party in 2008, but at the time, Michael Ignatieff came out victorious.
Gustaf Kilander6 January 2025 21:30
Trudeau takes subtle dig at former deputy prime minister whose shock resignation foretold his downfall
Former deputy prime minister and minister of finance Chrystia Freeland threw Trudeau’s government into chaos when she abruptly resigned from the cabinet last month, just hours before she was due to deliver the country’s first economic update since the U.S. election.
Rhian Lubin6 January 2025 21:00
Possible successors: Melanie Joly
The minister of foreign affairs is from Quebec and represents a district in Montreal, much like Justin Trudeau.
A lawyer educated at Oxford, she has held her post since 2021. She initially joined parliament in 2015 after being urged by Trudeau to run for federal office.
Gustaf Kilander6 January 2025 20:30
