The party of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has decided to select his successor on March 9 after the departing leader gave in to growing demands to step down ahead of the country’s elections.
A worldwide leadership election “will conclude on March 9, 2025, at which point the new leader will be announced on the same day,” according to a statement issued by the Liberal Party late Thursday evening.
After almost ten years in office and rising internal dissension, Trudeau declared Monday that he will step down to make room for a new leader to lead his party into elections that must be held by October at the latest.
He said he would stick on as interim prime minister until the replacement is named.
“After a robust and secure nationwide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9, and be ready to fight and win the 2025 election,” said Liberal Party president Sachit Mehra.
“This is a time for Liberals across the country to exchange ideas and engage in thoughtful debate to shape the future of our party and our country — and I encourage all Liberals to get involved in this exciting moment for our party,” he added.
Candidates for the leadership position must register by January 23 and pay an entrance fee of Can$350,000 (US$243,000), according to the release.
In 2024, Trudeau’s standing within the ruling Liberal party started to erode as a result of growing public outrage over the growing expense of living.
According to polls, Trudeau’s party is more than 20 points behind the Conservatives, who are led by firebrand Pierre Poilievre.
Trudeau suspended parliament until March 24 in addition to announcing his resignation, as the Liberals fear a vote of no confidence might topple their minority government.
Mark Carney, a former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, and Chrystia Freeland, the former number two in the Trudeau administration who quit with great fanfare in December, are the two front-runners to lead the Liberal party.
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