For months, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been asked variations of the same question: “Are you going to step down?”
But even as he vowed to stay on as leader of the Liberal Party – despite deepening frustrations among voters and a political rival surging in the polls – even the self-proclaimed “fighter” could not withstand a growing chorus of members of his own party calling for him to give resignation.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it became clear to me that if I have to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” Trudeau admitted Monday, announcing his resignation outside Rideau Cottage, his official residence. residence for most of the last decade.
He will remain as prime minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party is elected, at a date yet to be determined by the party.
Trudeau came to power almost ten years ago, heralded as the fresh face of progressive politics.
In 2015, buoyed by his youthful charisma and hopeful political message, voters catapulted the Liberals from the third-placed party to a majority of seats in parliament — unprecedented in Canadian political history.
He now remains the sole leader among colleagues from Barack Obama to Angela Merkel, Shinzo Abe and David Cameron when he took office, and at 53 is currently the longest-serving leader of the G7.
But in the years since his rise to the global stage and after two general elections, Trudeau and his brand have become a drag on the party’s fortunes.
Paul Wells, a Canadian political journalist and author of Justin Trudeau on the Ropes, recently told the BBC that he believed Trudeau would be remembered “as a consistent” prime minister, particularly for providing genuine leadership on issues such as aboriginal reconciliation and, to some extent, , climate policy.
But he is also one “who felt increasingly out of touch with public opinion and increasingly unable to adapt to the changing times.”
On Monday, Trudeau was quick to point out what he’s proud of in office, including overcoming the tumultuous Covid pandemic, renegotiating a free trade agreement with the last Trump administration and implementing a child benefit widely seen as helping to reduce poverty.
But a series of ethics scandals began to tarnish the new government early on — it was found to have violated federal conflict-of-interest rules in handling a corruption investigation — the SNC-Lavalin affair – and for luxury trips to the Bahamas.
In 2020, he faced scrutiny for choosing a charity linked to his family to administer a major government program.
In the 2019 general election, his party was reduced to minority status, meaning the Liberals had to rely on the support of other parties to stay in power.
Early elections in 2021 did not improve their fortunes.
Recently, Trudeau has faced headwinds from rising costs of living and inflation that have contributed to election disruptions around the world.
There was also frustration in the country over what was seen as a struggle to deliver on big promises – a program that was “overcrowded, overcrowded”, Mr. Wells – and his handling of files like immigration.
Late last year, the Liberals abandoned ambitious immigration targets amid concerns that the problem was being mismanaged, significantly reducing the number of newcomers allowed to Canada.
He also sometimes delivered easy political victories to his opponents, including when it was revealed that he wore black and brown face before taking office.
And after more than nine years in office, he is among Canada’s longest-serving prime ministers, and there is a general sense of weariness and frustration with his government.
So the writing was on the wall.
A series of political blows made it clear that Trudeau’s days were numbered.
Over the summer, voters rejected liberal candidates in several special elections in once-safe liberal seats, sparking intra-party unrest.
He has become an increasingly polarizing figure for the electorate — and Trudeau said Monday it was “time for a reset” and to “turn the temperature down” in Canadian politics.
Opinion polls have also reached new depths, and attempts to change course with government reshuffles and tax breaks have failed.
A holiday survey by the Angus Reid Institute suggested the lowest level of support for the party in their follow-up since 2014.
Polls show that the conservatives – led by Pierre Poilievre, a 45-year-old career politician with a knack for sharp campaign catchphrases – would easily win the election if it were held today.
The political instability comes as the country faces a number of challenges – not least the promise by US President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20, to impose tariffs of 25% on Canadian goods.
Still, right up until the very end, Trudeau seemed determined to hang on, citing his desire to face Poilievre — his ideological opposite — in the polls.
But the shock resignation of Trudeau’s key deputy, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, in mid-December — where she cited his perceived failure to take Trump’s threats seriously — proved to be the final straw.
Members of his own party have begun to make it known publicly that they no longer support his leadership.
And with that, the last domino fell.
