Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday he intends to step down as the country’s prime minister, leaving office once a new ruling party leader is chosen.
- Canada’s parliament will be suspended until March 24 while a new leader is chosen, he said.
- Trudeau, leader of the Liberal Party for 11 years and prime minister for nine, was facing a mounting set of crises, from Donald Trump’s tariff threats to the resignation of key allies and disastrous opinion polls.
In a seismic political move, Justin Trudeau has announced his intention to step down as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and prime minister, once his successor is named.
This decision comes after more than nine years in the country’s top job and nearly 12 years at the helm of his party.
Trudeau announced his departure at Rideau Cottage on Jan. 6, saying that every moment he’s woken up as prime minister he’s been inspired by Canadians, who he said deserve a real choice, and it’s become clear to him that he “cannot be the one to carry the Liberal standard into the next election.”
This move follows a tumultuous fall sitting of Parliament and sets the ball in motion towards the end of Trudeau’s historic political tenure, one marked by both substantial social and policy change, as well as controversy and fluctuating public support.
As the country readies to enter a new political era, here’s a look back at Trudeau’s career.
