BREAKING NEWS: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will step down as Liberal leader, announces resignation at press conference.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is to make a public declaration of his resignation as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, a senior government source confirmed today. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a press conference this morning at Rideau Cottage, where he is expected to reveal his decision to step down, but will remain as the head of government until a new leader is chosen.

The announcement by Trudeau is coming in light of the rising pressure that is being exerted on him by his party itself, where it has emerged that a majority of caucus members from Ontario, Atlantic Canada, Quebec, and British Columbia are looking for him to step aside. The move follows extensive caucus-level discussions over stepping down during the Christmas break.

According to his announcement, Trudeau is expected to indicate his intention to stay on as prime minister until a successor is appointed, giving the Liberal Party enough time to hold a leadership race. Trudeau’s advisors had been considering legal advice that indicated the prorogation of Parliament could last until March 24. This prorogation would allow the party to avoid a non-confidence motion, which the Conservative Party had been preparing to bring forward when the House of Commons resumed on January 27.

The potential prorogation would halt parliamentary sessions until late March, effectively putting a pause on any pending legislative matters, including the fallout from Trudeau’s controversial fall economic statement. The new session, set to begin with a Speech from the Throne, would pave the way for a crucial confidence vote. If the Liberals lose that vote, it could trigger an early federal election.

The announcement by Trudeau also coincides with the start of U.S. president-elect Donald Trump’s second term, which will give an international dimension to Canada’s political developments.

Pressure from Within the Party

The resignation comes following mounting pressure inside the Liberal Party’s ranks amid growing concerns of members about prospects for the party ahead of the 2025 federal election with Trudeau at the helm. It will be Wednesday when a national caucus meeting, which will likely be a key moment, would see Trudeau being called upon to resign by some of his MPs.

To this end, Liberal MPs have already been schooled on the rules and procedures that govern party leadership. Under the Liberal Party constitution, a race must be triggered within 27 days of the resignation of a leader. An interim leader will be elected through a national board of directors meeting, which will also agree to a vote in the proper manner and set out the rules governing the contest, in consultation with the caucus.

Trudeau’s Political Legacy

The prime minister of Canada since 2015 and leader of the Liberal Party since 2013, Trudeau has been at the heart of Canadian politics for nearly a decade. He has made social and environmental policy and international diplomacy cornerstones of his leadership, but his time in office has also been marred by criticism, particularly over the past few years, due to the decline of the party’s popularity and divisions within it.

This is the end of an era for Trudeau, who had once been considered a transformational leader for the Liberal Party. Now, with Canada set to head into the 2025 election, all eyes will turn toward the party’s future and its choice of a new leader.