Justin Trudeau’s Liberal Party, which is currently headed by the outgoing prime minister, said on Thursday night that it will choose a new PM for Canada on March 9. Canadians, who will vote in the national elections, scheduled to take place later this year, are showing less faith in Trudeau’s party, as per recent data from polls.
The prime minister announced on Monday 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.
Trudeau said that he would stay on both as PM and Liberal leader until the party chooses a new chief for Canada.
“After a robust and secure nationwide 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 Thursday 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 said.
Freeland, Carney Favourites
The cut-off date to become a registered Liberal and be eligible to vote in the leadership race will be January 27, according to the Liberal Party. The entrance fee for a candidate to join the leadership race will be C$350,000 ($242,920.60), the party added.
The Globe and Mail reported late on Thursday 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.
Trudeau announced on Monday that parliament would be prorogued, or suspended, until March 24.
Polling Between May And October
That meant an election was unlikely before May at the earliest, so Trudeau was expected to remain in charge – at least initially – of dealing with the threat of crippling tariffs once US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20.
Trump has been critical of Trudeau, who in turn has criticised the president-elect’s proposed tariffs, with the Canadian saying they will harm both nations.
Trump has also referred to Canada as a US state, with 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 October 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.
(With inputs from Reuters)
