After serving as prime minister for almost ten years, Justin Trudeau has stepped down as head of Canada’s ruling party.
At a news conference in Ottawa, Trudeau declares that he will continue to serve as prime minister until a new leader of the Liberal Party is selected.
He declares that parliament will be adjourned until March 24 and declares that “this country deserves a real choice” during the upcoming election.
Trudeau had been facing mounting pressure to resign from both inside and outside his party.
Trudeau claims that although he had hoped that his longtime ally Chrystia Freeland would remain in her roles as deputy prime minister and finance minister, “she chose otherwise.”
He explains, “I’m not someone who is in the habit of sharing private conversations,” in reference to what transpired when she resigned a few weeks ago.
Recall that Trudeau’s leadership was under more pressure after Freeland abruptly resigned in mid-December.
