Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is to announce on Monday that he intends to step down as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, but will remain in his position until the party chooses a successor, Canadian CBC News reported, citing sources.
As reported by Reuters, Justin Trudeau called a press conference for Monday late afternoon Polish time. It is during this speech, according to local media, that the Canadian Prime Minister is to announce his decision. The conference is scheduled to be held at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, where Trudeau's residence is located.
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.
The media have been speculating for a long time about the decisions that Trudeau may make, pointing to the possibility of both the so-called prorogation, i.e. suspension of parliamentary work, possible early elections, as well as the resignation of the head of government from the position of party leader, which would involve the election of a new chairman of this grouping. As liberal politician Peter Fragiskatos emphasized in the media, Trudeau's successor would have a chance to “capture the imagination of Canadians again.”
Elections to the House of Commons of the federal parliament should take place in the fall.
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