REPORT: Canadian PM Justin Trudeau ‘Expected’ to Announce Resignation Imminently
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce his resignation in the coming days, according to The Globe and Mail.
The outlet reports that three sources claim that Trudeau will announce his plans to resign as Liberal Party leader before a key national caucus meeting scheduled for Wednesday. Trudeau has led Canada as prime minister for nearly a decade since 2015.
The Globe’s report noted that it is not clear whether Trudeau will immediately step down as leader or wait until a new successor is selected by the party. According to Reuters, Trudeau’s departure would make his party leaderless as polls show Liberals losing to the Conservative party in the upcoming election.
If Trudeau does resign it would likely result in calls for a snap election to replace the ruling government. The Globe reported that Trudeau has reportedly talked with Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc about if he is willing to step in as interim leader an prime minister after Trudeau leaves office.
Before Trudeau took over leadership of the Liberal Party in 2013, it had only the third largest majority in the House of Commons and fickle support from the public.
Trudeau’s potential resignation comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to return to the White House. Trudeau and Trump have a strained relationship as the president-elect has mocked him as the “governor” of the “Great State of Canada.”