OTTAWA, Dec 23 - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces escalating calls from within his own party to resign as the Liberal Party grapples with potential electoral defeat in the upcoming elections.
After more than nine years in power, the ruling Liberals are experiencing voter fatigue, compounded by rising costs and a housing crisis, leading to predictions of significant losses in the next election.
Reports indicate that over 50 Liberal MPs from Ontario, the party's stronghold, participated in a conference call on Saturday, unanimously agreeing that a leadership change is necessary. Chandra Arya, a long-time Trudeau supporter, stated there is no alternative but to have a change in leadership.
Trudeau recently endured two significant setbacks: the resignation of Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland over a policy disagreement and a united front from opposition parties aiming to topple the minority Liberal government.
Should Trudeau resign, potential successors include Freeland, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly, Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, and former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney. However, Trudeau has indicated he intends to spend the holidays with family and take a skiing vacation, with plans to consider his future in the new year.
Opposition leaders argue that with Trudeau's position increasingly precarious and the incoming U.S. administration threatening a 25% tariff on Canadian imports, an election is needed to establish a stable government. Current polling suggests that the Conservatives would significantly outperform the Liberals in an election.
The Liberal Party recently released an advertisement warning that a Conservative victory would lead to cuts in public spending, notably omitting any mention of Trudeau.