Trudeau eyes exit as liberal leader amid internal strife
The Canadian daily The Globe and Mail reports that Justin Trudeau may announce his resignation as head of the Liberal Party.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is considering stepping down as leader of the Liberal Party, according to the Canadian daily The Globe and Mail, which cites three anonymous sources. The decision may be announced on Wednesday during a meeting of the party's parliamentary caucus.
Pressures on Trudeau
The Liberal Party caucus meeting is scheduled for 8 January. According to a recent report by the public broadcaster CBC, it is expected to last six hours. On Monday, the Prime Minister is expected to participate only in an online government committee meeting for Canada-US relations.
For several weeks, the media has reported on internal pressure within the Liberal Party regarding Trudeau due to the party's declining ratings. In December, Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned following a disagreement with the Prime Minister over economic policy.
Possible scenarios
The media have long speculated about various decisions Trudeau might take, including suspending parliamentary work, calling early elections, or the Prime Minister stepping down as party leader, which would involve electing a new head of the group.
Peter Fragiskatos, a liberal politician, emphasised that a new leader could "capture the imagination of Canadians anew". Elections to the House of Commons are planned for this autumn.
The importance of the elections in Canada is immense due to their impact on economic policy in the context of Donald Trump's announced tariffs on Canadian goods.
The Canadian election campaign is also focused on living costs and access to public services, posing significant challenges for the ruling Liberals.
