In a significant announcement, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated on Monday that he would be stepping down as the leader of the ruling Liberal Party after serving for nine years. However, he will continue to hold his position as prime minister until a new leader is elected. This decision comes as Liberal legislators have increasingly pressured him to resign, particularly in light of disappointing polling results suggesting a substantial defeat for the party in the upcoming election.

Trudeau indicated that a suspension of parliament would be in place until March 24, meaning he would still be in office when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump assumes the presidency on January 20. The prime minister expressed his intention to resign as both party leader and as prime minister after the Liberals complete a comprehensive search for a new leader, emphasizing the need for Canadians to have a genuine choice in the next election.

Having been in office since November 2015 and successfully winning reelection twice, Trudeau is one of Canada's longest-serving leaders. However, his popularity has been waning for the past two years, largely due to public dissatisfaction with rising costs and a lack of affordable housing, with his support never recovering since then.

Recent surveys indicate that the Liberals are likely to suffer a significant defeat against the opposing Conservative Party, which must occur by late October regardless of the party leader. While parliament was expected to reconvene on January 27, opposition parties have signaled their intention to bring down the government, potentially delaying any non-confidence motion until around May due to the planned suspension of parliament.

Trudeau had previously managed to fend off calls from within his party for his resignation, but pressure intensified last month after a failed attempt to demote Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, a key ally in his cabinet. Following her refusal to comply with Trudeau's directives, Freeland resigned and accused him of prioritizing political strategies over the country's needs.

The Conservative Party, now led by Pierre Poilievre, has gained prominence, particularly following his support of the truck drivers who protested against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in the winter of 2022.