Justin Trudeau says he will resign as Canada's prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party amid political turmoil.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Monday that he intends to resign as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party amid growing opposition to his leadership.

“The truth is, despite the best efforts to deal with it, the parliament has been paralyzed for months, after the longest parliamentary session in Canadian history,” Trudeau said on television outside his home in Ottawa, the Canadian capital. the city. “I intend to step down as party leader, as prime minister, after the party has chosen the next leader through a rigorous, nationally competitive process.”

Trudeau, a former high school teacher and son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, became prime minister in 2015 after his Liberal Party won an absolute majority in parliament.

The Liberal Party won back-to-back general elections in 2019 and 2021, but lost the popular vote, requiring they formed a minority government and the left-wing opposition party, leaving his party dependent on its allies to pass legislation.

Trudeau, in his press conference on Monday, called for a more unified political climate and proposed changes to Canada's electoral system that would allow voters to look for “things they have in common instead of dividing Canadians and dividing them.” He said that the failure to amend that plan during his time is “an act of great regret” to lead us to the next election.

Why did Justin Trudeau resign?

Trudeau's leadership has faced major challenges in the wake of the COVID crisis, which has led to a loss of confidence in Canadians from diverse backgrounds. Key issues such as housing affordability, rising costs of living and high levels of immigration have contributed to widespread depression. This growing frustration has led to Trudeau's Liberal supporters calling for him to step down.

The sudden resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland on December 16 complicated Trudeau's political situation and upset his Liberal Party, renewing calls for him to step down.

In a resignation letter posted online, Freeland said he and the prime minister “did not agree on the best path forward for Canada.” His housing minister had resigned from the church last week.

Asked to talk about Freeland's departure, which some saw as the cause of Trudeau's resignation announcement, the prime minister said he hoped that Freeland would agree to continue with his cabinet as Deputy Prime Minister, “but he chose something else.” Trudeau declined to share more details about their “confidential discussions.”

Trudeau made a last-ditch effort to reshuffle his cabinet, hoping to add stability to his government, but that failed.

The Toronto Star editorial board said in a paper published on Dec. 16 that Trudeau “seems more concerned with his own survival than the interests of the country,” urging him to leave “for his legacy, his party and his country.”

The Toronto Police Association also said in a post on social media on December 17 that it has lost confidence in the Trudeau government, saying it is “time to resign and leave these important public safety issues to someone else.”

Jagmeet Singh, leader of the New Democratic Party and a former Trudeau ally, has threatened to topple the Liberal minority government with a vote of no confidence in the next seat if he does not resign.

“Justin Trudeau has failed in the greatest job a prime minister has: to serve the people, not the powerful,” Singh said in an online statement.

Trump tariff threat

Calls for Trudeau's resignation gained momentum after US President-elect Donald Trump's announcement that material about 25% prices Canada and Mexico if they don't take tough measures against immigration and drug trafficking concerns. Trump has targeted Trudeau and Canada in recent days, with the president-elect appearing to make a joke about him Canada becomes the 51st state and Trudeau as governor.

Some of Trudeau's critics have suggested he can't stand up to him Trump's economic pressure and bullying.

Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre called for early elections, while Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-François Blanchet warned that it would be “absolutely irresponsible” to remain in an unstable situation under Trudeau's leadership.

Polls show Trudeau's Liberal Party trailing the Conservatives by 20 points in the October election.