Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has revealed that he will not participate in the forthcoming federal elections, which are planned for October but might occur earlier. During a press briefing in Ottawa on Wednesday, he remarked, “Regarding my own choices, I will not be a candidate in the upcoming election. ”
The declaration followed a discussion with provincial leaders to formulate a cohesive approach to the incoming U. S. President-elect Donald Trump’s administration. Trudeau also conveyed his uncertainty about his future beyond politics, stating, “As for what I may do in the future, I honestly haven’t had much time to contemplate that at all, I am fully concentrated on fulfilling the responsibilities that Canadians chose me for during this exceptionally critical period. ”
Trudeau initially ventured into politics in 2008, winning a seat in Quebec’s Papineau riding. He successfully held onto his position in following elections, including in 2021, when he garnered 50. 3% of the vote.
On January 6, Trudeau declared that he would resign as Prime Minister once a new Liberal Party leader is chosen. This leadership contest will wrap up on March 9, with the victor anticipated to take over from Trudeau. Prospective candidates entail former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney and former Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who are expected to declare their candidacies shortly.
Trudeau, who assumed the role of Liberal Party leader in April 2013, guided the party to a majority win in 2015 but faced challenges in regaining a majority in the 2019 and 2021 elections. The Liberal Party has experienced a slump in recent polls, with support falling to around 20%—significantly trailing the opposition Conservative Party.
By late 2024, Trudeau encountered intense pressure to resign following Freeland’s unexpected resignation and growing demands from MPs for his swift exit. This culminated in his announcement to vacate his position and now, to exit electoral politics. Several potential candidates have already shown interest in contending for the leadership, including Indo-Canadian MP Chandra Arya, while others such as Mélanie Joly, Dominic LeBlanc, François-Philippe Champagne, and Anita Anand have opted to concentrate on their current responsibilities.
