Trudeau steps down as Canada’s prime minister

Justin Trudeau has become Justin Tru-done. The Canadian prime minister yesterday announced his resignation after almost a decade in power, citing members of his party who have been calling on him to step aside ahead of an election later this year.

• Trudeau said he’ll remain in office until March 24, when his governing Liberal Party will choose a new leader.
• He also moved to suspend the current session of Canada’s legislature until a new prime minister is in place.

A welcome decision

Trudeau’s resignation comes as public opinion polls indicate his approval rating is hovering around 20%, while his Liberal Party is trailing the opposition Conservative Party by 20+ points for the upcoming national election.

In response to the plummeting poll numbers, Liberal Party members in recent weeks have become more vocal in calling for Trudeau to step aside, including key members of the PM’s cabinet.

• Many Canadian voters blame Trudeau for the rising cost of living and housing shortages nationwide, which they argue is tied to the PM’s looser immigration policies.
• Trudeau is also facing internal backlash over his approach to President-elect Trump's plan to increase import tariffs on Canadian goods by 25%.

🌍👋 Zoom out: Trudeau’s exit continues an ongoing trend of incumbent Western governments losing control in the years following the pandemic, with more conservative and right-wing populist parties typically replacing them in leadership roles.