Canada PM Justin Trudeau says he’ll resign after new Liberal party leader named

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday his decision to resign as both the head of government and leader of the ruling Liberal Party once a successor is selected. The announcement followed Trudeau’s nine-year tenure in office and mounting pressure from within his party for a leadership change.

“I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister, after the party selects its new leader,” the 53-year-old politician told reporters while addressing the much-awaited press conference.

The development has now left the party without a permanent leader just as polls indicate a significant defeat by the official opposition, the Conservatives, in the upcoming election, which is likely to take place by late October this year.

Justin Trudeau rose to power in 2015, ending a decade of Conservative Party governance, and was initially celebrated for steering Canada back toward its liberal roots.

However, the 53-year-old son of former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau has faced growing unpopularity in recent years, driven by widespread voter dissatisfaction over issues such as skyrocketing food and housing costs and the sharp rise in immigration.