Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation from office.
At 53 years old, Trudeau revealed that he will step down as leader of the Liberal Party, which he has helmed since 2013. “I intend to resign as party leader and as prime minister,” he told reporters in Ottawa following a lengthy political crisis, during which key Liberal allies urged him to step down.
He noted that “Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority parliament in Canadian history,” and added, “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.”
Trudeau will serve as prime minister in a caretaker role until a new leader is selected. His resignation follows the December resignation of his deputy prime minister and finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, due to policy disputes, including disagreements over “costly political gimmicks” and how to address potential US tariffs under the incoming Donald Trump administration.
With polls indicating that Trudeau’s party faces a significant defeat to the opposition Conservatives in an election by late October, the Liberals must now appoint an interim leader before convening a special leadership convention.
