Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau could announce his resignation as early as this Monday, according to an exclusive report by Reuters on Sunday.
Although the final decision has yet to be confirmed, sources indicate that Mr. Trudeau is preparing to step down as leader of the Liberal Party after nine years in the post.
According to Reuters, the announcement could come on Monday, ahead of a special session of the Liberal caucus scheduled for Wednesday.
The possible resignation comes against a backdrop of declining opinion polls, with the Liberals falling significantly behind the opposition Conservatives in the run-up to elections scheduled before the end of October, Reuters reports.
The Globe and Mail, quoted in the Reuters report, reveals that several Liberal MPs have openly called on Mr. Trudeau to step down.
The situation has deteriorated since December, following the resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland after a disagreement with Mr. Trudeau over proposed spending increases.
Ms. Freeland criticized Mr. Trudeau for favoring “political gimmicks” over addressing the country’s essential concerns.
The Trudeau era began in 2013 when he took over the reins of a weakened Liberal party. He led the Liberals to a majority victory in 2015, championing a progressive vision and economic reforms. However, his government has faced growing obstacles, including post-COVID economic pressures, the housing crisis, and migration challenges.
Discussions about his succession point to Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc as a possible interim leader. However, this option could be complicated should Mr. LeBlanc decide to run for permanent leadership.
According to Reuters, Mr. Trudeau’s office has not commented on this information.
Monday’s agenda includes a virtual cabinet meeting on Canada-U.S. relations.
The election of a Conservative as Canada’s leader could further complicate the situation for immigrants in Canada and those in the U.S. seeking refuge in Canada when Donald Trump takes office on January 20.
This information is based on the Reuters report, the primary source for this developing news item.