Liberal discontents look to topple Trudeau, ‘at least’ 20 MPs signing pledge: Canadian media
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau survived an attempt in September from the opposition Conservative Party to force an election.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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OTTAWA – A group of lawmakers within Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s governing Liberal Party is organising to pressure him to step down, according to news reports.
Members of Parliament held meetings in Canada’s capital, Ottawa, this week and have been asked to sign a document pledging to stand together in calling for a change in leadership, according to a report on Oct 11 from CBC News, which cited people who were not identified.
“At least” 20 MPs have signed the document, according to CBC.
The alleged move comes as lawmakers return to Parliament following damaging by-election losses for the Liberals in Montreal and Toronto, and while Mr Trudeau and his chief of staff were out of the country for a summit in Asia.
An earlier article on Oct 11 from the Toronto Star described an effort to publicly pressure Mr Trudeau, 52, who has led Canada since 2015, to step down, citing people who were not identified.
“At least 30 to 40 MPs” are ready to sign a letter, the newspaper reported.
Still, the number of dissenting MPs cited in the reports may fall short of a critical mass.
The Liberal Party holds 153 seats in Canada’s House of Commons.
The Canadian Prime Minister’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Canadian Trade Minister Mary Ng, who is travelling back to Canada from Laos with Mr Trudeau, said she was disappointed to read about the MPs’ plan, and that she has full confidence in him, The Canadian Press reported.
In September, a parliamentary pact with another party which has kept Mr Trudeau in power fell apart.
Later in September, he survived an attempt from the opposition Conservative Party to force an election.
