Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation from both the posts of head of state and leader of the Liberal Party. Trudeau’s decision comes after months of internal challenges and calls for his removal. Despite stepping down, he plans to remain in office until a new leader is elected.
Trudeau also confirmed that the Canadian Parliament will remain suspended until March 24, 2025, when the party’s new leader is expected to be elected. The leader will then guide the Liberal Party into the upcoming general elections, where surveys suggest a challenging path for the ruling party. The list of major contenders for the next Prime Minister includes the names of Anita Anand, Melanie Jolie, Chrystia Freeland, Governor Mark Carney, George Chahal, Francois-Philippe Champagne.
Oxford-educated academic Anita Anand, 57, has held several high-profile roles in Trudeau’s (Canada) cabinet, including minister of defence, public services and procurement and president of the Treasury Board. Melanie Jolie; Currently the Foreign Minister, she has been a key figure in Trudeau’s cabinet since 2021. Chrystia Freeland, 56, who also served as Finance Minister, has been a central figure in the Liberal Party since 2013.
Mark Carney, a 59-year-old Harvard graduate and former governor of the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, has emerged as a possible successor. Another leader of Indian origin, Alberta’s Liberal MP George Chahal can also become the Prime Minister of Canada. Chahal has also made this request by writing a letter to his caucus colleagues last week. François-Philippe Champagne currently serves as the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, having held various cabinet roles since entering politics in 2015.
