Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announces resignation

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation following the rise of discontent over his leadership and growing turmoil within his government.

Mr Trudeau made the announcement at a press conference outside his residence at Rideau Cottage, in Ottawa, saying “internal battles” mean that he “cannot be the best option” in the next election.

“I don’t easily back down faced with a fight, especially a very important one for our party and the country. But I do this job because the interests of Canadians and the well being of democracy is something that I hold dear,” he said.

Parliament, which had been due to resume on January 27, will be pro-rogued until March 24.

The timing will allow for a Liberal Party leadership race, though it was not clear when nationwide elections would be held to pick a permanent replacement.

“The Liberal Party of Canada is an important institution in the history of our great country and democracy. A new prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party will carry its values and ideals into that next election,” Mr Trudeau said. “I am excited to see that process unfold in the months ahead.”

Opposition Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre responded to Mr Trudeau’s resignation announcement in a taped message posted on X.

Mr Poilievre said that “Canadians desperate to turn the page on this dark chapter in our history might be relieved today that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving”.

Mr Poilievre also took aim at the Liberal Party: “But what has really changed? Every Liberal MP in power today and every potential Liberal leadership contender fighting for the top job helped Justin Trudeau break the country over the last nine years.”

Other opposition leaders added their own criticism, including Jagmeet Singh, who leads the New Democratic Party.

“It doesn’t matter who the next Liberal is. They’ve let you down. They do not deserve another chance,” said Mr Singh, who propped up Trudeau’s party for years.

Mr Trudeau had been the second-youngest prime minister in Canada’s history when he was elected in 2015, and he had been planning to run for a fourth term in next year’s election even as discontent in his party grew.

He said that “I have always been driven by my love for Canada” and repeatedly described himself as a fighter.

Mr Trudeau came to power after 10 years of Conservative Party rule and had initially been hailed for returning the country to its liberal past.

The political upheaval comes at a difficult moment for Canada internationally. US President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian goods if the government does not stem what Mr Trump calls a flow of migrants and drugs into the US – even though far fewer of each cross into the US from Canada than from Mexico, which Mr Trump has also threatened.

Canada is a major exporter of oil and natural gas to the US, which also relies on its northern neighbour for steel, aluminium and automobiles.

After Mr Trudeau’s announcement, Mr Trump, who for weeks has referred to Canada as the 51st state, did so again and incorrectly claimed on social media that the prime minister resigned because Canada relies on subsidies from the US to stay afloat.

Mr Trudeau has kept publicly quiet in recent weeks, despite intensifying pressure for him to step down.

Ms Freeland and Mr Trudeau had disagreed about two recently announced policies: a temporary sales tax holiday on goods ranging from children’s clothes to beer and plans to send every citizen a check for 250 Canadian dollars (£138).

Ms Freeland, who was also deputy prime minister, said Canada could not afford “costly political gimmicks” in the face of the tariffs threat.

“Our country is facing a grave challenge,” Ms Freeland wrote in her resignation letter. “That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war.”