Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has resigned from his role as Canadian PM and chief of the Canadian Liberal Party after facing a rebellion from his own party members and also as he grew unpopular because of his policies.
Trudeau came to power in 2015 after 10 years of Conservative Party rule.“I intend to resign as party leader as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide competitive process. 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,” Trudeau said at a press conference.
Trudeau, 53, took office in November 2015 and won re-election twice, becoming one of Canada's longest-serving prime ministers.
But his popularity started dipping two years ago amid public anger over high prices and a housing shortage, and his fortunes never recovered.
Polls show the Liberals will badly lose to the official opposition Conservatives in an election that must be held by late October, regardless of who the leader is.
Trudeau's decision to step down comes amid US President-elect Donald Trump threatening to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods if the government does not stem what the Republican calls a flow of migrants and drugs in the US — even though far fewer of each crosses into the US from Canada than from Mexico, which Trump has also threatened.Last month, Chrystia Freeland, announced her resignation as finance minister from the cabinet on Dec 16, criticising some of Trudeau's economic priorities in the face of Trump's threats.
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