Liberal Party of Canadian PM Trudeau to choose new leader on March 9
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Mr Justin Trudeau said he would stay on both as Prime Minister and Liberal leader until the party chooses a new chief.
PHOTO: AFP
Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party said late on Jan 9 it will choose a new leader on March 9 ahead of the 2025 election for which polls show the party in a very weak position.
The Prime Minister announced on Jan 6 that he will step down in the coming months after nine years in power, bowing to pressure from lawmakers alarmed by the party’s miserable showing in pre-election polls.
Mr Trudeau said he would stay on both as Prime Minister and Liberal leader until the party chooses a new chief.
“After a robust and secure nation-wide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9, and be ready to fight and win the 2025 election,” the party said in a statement.
The party’s National Board of Directors formally met on Jan 9 evening to discuss and outline the initial rules of the upcoming leadership race.
The leadership vote will conclude on March 9 and a new leader will be announced on the same date, the party added.
The cut-off date to become a registered Liberal and be eligible to vote in the leadership race will be Jan 27, according to the party. The entrance fee for a candidate to join the leadership race will be C$350,000 (S$332,519).
The Globe and Mail reported late on Jan 9 that former finance minister Chrystia Freeland and former central banker Mark Carney were poised to seek the Liberal Party leadership, while Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne remained uncertain over whether to join the race. The report cited sources.
Mr Trudeau announced on Jan 9 that parliament would be prorogued, or suspended, until March 24.
That meant an election was unlikely before May at the earliest, so he was expected to remain in charge – at least initially – of dealing with a threat of crippling tariffs once US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan 20.
Trump has been critical of Mr Trudeau, who in turn has criticised the proposed tariffs, saying they will harm both nations.
Trump has also referred to Canada as a US state, with Mr Trudeau saying there was not “a snowball’s chance in hell” that Canada would become part of the United States.
The next Canadian election must be held by Oct 20 and polls show that voters – angry over high prices and a shortage of affordable housing – are set to elect the opposition Conservatives and hand the Liberals a resounding defeat, no matter who leads the party. REUTERS
