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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau resigned on Monday ahead of this year’s general election, in which the ruling Liberal Party is polling poorly, and amid tensions with President-elect Trump, who has threatened high tariffs on country for border policies.
“I intend to resign as the leader of the party, as the prime minister,” Trudeau said.
“Last night I asked the president of the Liberal Party to start this process. This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I have to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best choice in this election.”
Trudeau, 53, has served as prime minister for nine years and as Liberal leader for 11, but was facing growing crises and worrying polls against the Conservative Party led by Pierre Poilievre.
Recent blows to Trudeau include the public resignation of a prime minister, a standoff with the U.S. over Trump’s threats of 25 percent tariffs, the conflict over immigration and the high cost of living .
The move comes ahead of an emergency meeting of Liberal lawmakers on Wednesday.
Canada is heading to a general election in 2025, which will be held on or before October 20.
Talk of Trudeau’s resignation intensified after that the resignation from Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland in mid-December, who criticized Trudeau for pursuing “costly political tricks” in the face of Trump’s tariff threats.
Trudeau’s proposals included a two-month sales tax penalty and a C$250 ($175) tax on Canadians.
Trump has referred to Trudeau as the “governor” of Canada, sarcastically referring to the US’s northern neighbor and NATO ally as the “51st state”.
Trump threatened 25 percent tariffs on Canada over demands the country do more to crack down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking at the border, such as fraction of total numbers of illegal immigration and drug crossings that largely cross the southern border of the United States.
trump welcomed Trudeau at his Florida residence, Mar-A-Lago, following the tariff threats.
