Canadian PM Justin Trudeau resigns in the face of internal, external pressure

Embattled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday, citing a desire for new leadership.

His departure marks the end of an era after nearly a decade in office.

Trudeau's resignation comes amid declining approval and internal party pressure. He will remain PM though, till his party is able to choose a new leader. 

He said that he has “one regret” as he announced he intends to resign — and that is the country’s election process, according to CNN.

“If I have one regret, particularly as we approach this election — well, probably many regrets that I will think of,” Trudeau said. “But I do wish we’d been able to change the way we elect our governments in this country so that people could simply choose a second choice, or a third choice on the same ballot.”

However, he may remain in office until the summer, depending on how long the ruling Liberal Party takes to select a new leader.

Trudeau’s decision could precede the party's national caucus meeting on Wednesday, according to the Globe and Mail.

While Trudeau may seek to host the G7 summit in Alberta this June, his leadership faces mounting pressure. Over half of the 153 Liberal MPs in the House of Commons have called for his resignation, a figure nearing 100.

With Parliament returning on January 27 and a no-confidence motion expected, Trudeau might seek to prorogue Parliament to facilitate the leadership transition.

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After returning from a holiday in British Columbia, Trudeau has yet to comment publicly, with only a virtual Cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday.

Meanwhile, potential successors include former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, whose resignation in December intensified calls for Trudeau’s departure. Polls suggest Freeland could revive the party’s fortunes, with support rising from 16% under Trudeau to over 20%. Other contenders, including Mark Carney and Melanie Joly, appear less promising. The Conservatives currently lead the Liberals by over 20% in voter preference.