Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced he will step down as leader of the Liberal Party, confirming that he plans to resign after a successor is selected. Speaking at a press conference in Ottawa on Monday, the 53-year-old leader stated, “I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its new leader.” Trudeau will continue to serve in a caretaker role until a replacement is chosen.
“Parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of a minority parliament in Canadian history,” the 53-year-old leader said.
“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.”
With the announcement, Trudeau ends his nine-year tenure at the helm of Canada’s ruling Liberal Party. A federal election would likely need to take place by late October.
Pressure has been mounting on Trudeau to leave office. His deputy prime minister, Chrystia Freeland, resigned in December, citing disagreements over how to handle U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canadian goods. The proposed tariffs could hurt both economies, further fueling frustration within Trudeau’s party.
While Trudeau’s office has not commented publicly on the reports, his schedule indicates he is still set to attend a virtual meeting on Canada-U.S. relations on Monday. However, it remains unclear whether he will remain in office until a new leader is chosen or if he will step down immediately.
The news comes as Trudeau faces growing challenges, including political discontent within his party and concerns over Canada’s economic future.
This article has been updated with new information.
