Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that he would step down as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and thus cease to be prime minister. However, he will continue to perform his functions until his successor is elected. He also announced that the parliament's work would be suspended until March 24.
Justin Trudeau announced his decision at a press conference Monday outside his Rideau Cottage residence in Ottawa. He emphasized that in the current situation he intended to “step down after the party chooses its next leader.”
He also asked Governor General Mary Simon, representing the British monarch, to suspend the work of parliament until March 24 and, as he said, this request was accepted.
Justin TrudeauReuters
Pressure on the Prime Minister
For many weeks, the media have been writing about pressure on Trudeau coming from within the Liberal Party and related, among other things, to the Liberals' falling ratings in polls.
In mid-December last year, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland unexpectedly resigned a few hours before the budget situation was presented to parliament. The reason for her resignation was a dispute with the Prime Minister over the further direction of economic policy. Freeland wrote in a letter, also posted on social media, that she was leaving the cabinet because the prime minister wanted to transfer her to another position, and this – in her understanding – means lack of trust.
Elections to the House of Commons of the federal parliament should take place in the fall.
Main photo source: Reuters