Trudeau Leaves Canada in Suspense Amid Calls for Him to Step Down from Power
Trudeau Leaves Canada in Suspense as Anxious Liberals Urge Him to Go
As the holiday period comes to an end, Canadian politics is gripped by a single question: when will Justin Trudeau make his next move? The Prime Minister has largely disappeared from public view since December 16th, when Chrystia Freeland, his Finance Minister and once his most powerful ally in cabinet, resigned in devastating fashion. Her public letter criticized him, leaving many wondering what the future holds for the Liberal Party.
The Waiting Game
Trudeau spent much of the holidays at a ski resort in western Canada and has no official events or appearances planned by the end of the week, according to a person familiar with his schedule. He has given no public indication yet of when he’ll announce a decision about his future. However, lawmakers in his party are growing increasingly anxious.
A Rebellion Brewing
The longer Trudeau waits to address both his party and the country, the more he risks provoking a Liberal rebellion. Nik Nanos, founder of Nanos Research, warns that if the polling numbers continue to hold up in an election, the Liberals would lose most of their 153 seats. The party has now launched pre-election advertising, focusing on concern that Conservatives will cut social programs.
The Road Ahead
A Liberal leadership race may take three months to run – under different circumstances, it would take even longer. Even if the Liberals are able to avoid a forced election during a leadership contest, the winner would have a relatively short period of time, maybe only weeks, before being thrown into a national campaign.
Continuity in Government
To ensure continuity in government, Trudeau could resign but say he’s staying in office while a leadership race takes place. However, "a politically wounded prime minister is not really in a very strong position to negotiate anything with someone like Donald Trump," Nanos said.
The Liberal Party’s Road to Recovery
Regardless of what happens next, the Liberal Party – which has dominated Canadian federal politics since the Second World War – faces a difficult road ahead. Even with a new leader, the party would need a major turnaround in public opinion just to save most of its seats, much less hold onto government.
A History of Rebound
The Liberals have faced their share of challenges before. In 2011, they suffered their worst showing in any national election, winning only 19% of the popular vote and securing just 34 of 308 seats. However, about two years later, they chose Trudeau as their new leader. "He took the Liberals out of the wilderness," Nanos said. "It very well may be that he will return them to the political wilderness at the end of the next federal election."
A Call for Change
Liberal members from the four easternmost provinces have called on Trudeau to step down, citing concerns about his leadership and the party’s chances in the next election. Nik Nanos believes that it’s "not tenable" for the Prime Minister to stay.
The Clock is Ticking
As the House of Commons resumes sitting in late January, the pressure on Trudeau continues to build. The Liberal Party needs a strong leader to guide them through this difficult period and lead them back to power. However, with each passing day, it seems increasingly likely that Trudeau’s time as Prime Minister is coming to an end.
A New Era for Canada
Regardless of what happens next, one thing is clear: the future of Canadian politics will be shaped by the decisions made in the coming weeks and months. As Trudeau navigates this uncertain landscape, he must balance his own interests with those of his party and the country as a whole. The clock is ticking – but for whom?
