Under mounting pressure from within his own party, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his decision to resign, bringing his nine-year tenure as leader to an end.
"This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election," he remarked during a press conference on Monday (6 January), reports the BBC.
Trudeau said that he would remain in office until the Liberal Party selects a new leader.
He also stated that the parliament would be prorogued, or suspended, until 24 March.
Trudeau's declining popularity among Canadians had increasingly weighed on the Liberal Party’s prospects ahead of the upcoming federal elections.
"Last night, over dinner, I shared my decision with my children, which I am now conveying to you," he revealed at the news conference in Ottawa.
"I intend to resign as party leader and as prime minister once the party elects a new leader through a comprehensive nationwide competitive process," he added.
Sachit Mehra, President of the Liberal Party, indicated that the party’s board of directors would convene this week to commence the leadership selection process.
In a statement, Mehra expressed gratitude, "Liberals across the country are immensely thankful to Justin Trudeau for over a decade of leadership to our party and the nation."
"As prime minister, his vision brought about transformational progress for Canadians," he remarked, highlighting initiatives such as the Canada Child Benefit and the introduction of dental and pharmacare coverage for certain medications.
Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre dismissed Trudeau's resignation as inconsequential, stating, "nothing has changed."
"Every Liberal MP and leadership contender supported EVERYTHING Trudeau did for nine years. Now they aim to deceive voters by replacing him with another Liberal figure to continue exploiting Canadians for another four years, just like Justin," Poilievre posted on X.
Trudeau, 53, faced escalating demands to resign from within the Liberal Party, which intensified after Deputy Prime Minister and long-time ally Chrystia Freeland's sudden resignation in December.
