Trudeau Set to Step Down Amid Political Crisis, Facing Mounting Pressure

As Trudeau's leadership falters, the Liberals face an uncertain future.
January 6, 2025
Trudeau Set to Step Down

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce his resignation as the leader of the Liberal Party on Monday, January 6, 2025, a move that comes just days before an important party-wide caucus meeting on Wednesday. The announcement follows a series of political setbacks and plummeting approval ratings that have left the Prime Minister and his government under intense scrutiny.

While it is unclear whether Trudeau will also step down as the country’s Prime Minister, this decision appears to be a strategic attempt to bring some stability to the party ahead of a potentially pivotal parliamentary election.

Trudeau’s government has faced growing challenges since the 2021 election, when the Liberal Party won a minority government with the support of the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP). In exchange for supporting the Liberals in key votes, the NDP secured promises of progressive policies, including free dental care and pharma-care legislation.

However, relations between the two parties soured, culminating in the NDP withdrawing its support in September 2024. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh criticized Trudeau for his inability to effectively challenge the Conservative opposition, led by Pierre Poilievre. Singh, positioning himself as a potential future Prime Minister, emphasized the need to combat “Conservative cuts” to vital public services, such as healthcare.

Singh’s move to introduce a no-confidence vote in December further heightened the political tension, setting the stage for an early election. The Liberals’ precarious position in Parliament, compounded by a series of internal conflicts, has led to historically low approval ratings, with an Ipsos survey showing just 33% support for the party in October 2024, trailing the Conservatives by 12 percentage points.

The political climate grew even more volatile with the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on December 16, 2024. Hours before delivering a crucial economic update to Parliament, Freeland announced she would step down, claiming Trudeau no longer wanted her in the finance minister role. This marks the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the Trudeau government, which has seen eight ministers leave in recent months.

Freeland’s resignation, along with the ongoing exodus of other senior figures, has raised questions about the stability of the Liberal government as it struggles to address the economic pressures facing Canada, including inflation and the escalating housing crisis.

As Trudeau’s leadership falters, the Liberals face an uncertain future. If the no-confidence vote proceeds, the party is expected to lose without the support of the NDP, which is unlikely given their recent break with the Liberals. The outcome would likely trigger early elections, a prospect that seems increasingly inevitable.

If Trudeau resigns as Liberal leader, the party will need to elect an interim leader to guide it through this uncertain period. Some within the party have suggested that Freeland, despite her resignation from the finance minister role, could step in as interim leader.

In a final attempt to stave off the collapse of his government, Trudeau may choose to prorogue Parliament — effectively suspending it — in order to avoid a no-confidence vote and buy time to implement his policies.

As political instability grips Canada, the fate of Trudeau’s leadership and the future of the Liberal Party hang in the balance. The coming days are likely to be crucial in determining the path forward for both the Prime Minister and the nation.

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