Justin Trudeau Set to Step Down as Party Leader, Stops Succession Race: Live Updates from Canada

Here’s what you need to know about the rise and fall of Mr. Trudeau, and what might happen next.

Who is Justin Trudeau?

Mr Trudeau grew up in the limelight as the son of Pierre Elliott Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada. In 2015, aged 43, Mr Trudeau became Canada’s second youngest leader after his Liberal Party won a strong majority in parliament. Mr. Trudeau was social media savvy and enjoyed a long political vacation after his election. (She had beautiful hair too.)

In 2017, Mr. Trudeau came under pressure to oppose Donald J. Trump, the newly elected president of the US. As Mr. Trump imposing restrictions on immigration, Mr. Trudeau also highlighted Canada’s openness to asylum seekers, saying, “Diversity is our strength.”

While in office, Mr. Trudeau put forward two issues. One was climate change. Another was reconciliation with the Natives, despite the damage caused by the residential school system which is full of abuse. He also followed through on a pledge to legalize marijuana.

In 2019, the Liberals continued to hold power with Mr. Trudeau as their leader, but by a narrow margin, and failed to secure a majority in Parliament. The Liberals needed the support of smaller parties to advance Mr. Trump’s legislative agenda. Trudeau.

During the coronavirus crisis in 2020, Mr Trudeau became the first leader of the Group of 7 to self-isolate, after his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for Covid-19. (The couple is now separated.) The following year, with his approval ratings still high, he called a snap election, saying he wanted a strong mandate for his party to get Canada out of the pandemic and revive the economy.

Voters returned him to office in 2021, but the Liberals again failed to win a majority in Parliament. Mr. Trudeau has faced heavy criticism from conservative opponents for some of his pandemic and recovery policies.

Why is his government unpopular?

Economy: Canada’s post-pandemic inflation has fallen to 8 percent, although it has fallen below 2 percent. Unemployment remains high, at about 6.4 percent. The Conservative opposition has slammed Mr Trudeau’s carbon-tax plan.

Houses: The cost of housing in many of Canada’s major cities is unaffordable. An economic analysis this year found that in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, prices would have to fall, or incomes would have to rise impossibly, to restore affordability.

Immigration: In October, Mr. Trudeau said he was tightening Canada’s immigration policies after the country welcomed nearly three million people in three years, straining health care and other services. “In turbulent times as we emerge from this pandemic, between addressing the needs of the workforce and maintaining population growth, we haven’t quite found the balance,” she said.

Scandals: In 2018, Mr Trudeau was accused of groping a reporter in 2000, allegations he denied. The federal ethics commissioner in 2019 ruled that Mr. Trudeau attempted to bypass, undermine and discredit his former justice minister and attorney general, Jody Wilson-Raybould, in connection with a criminal case against SNC-Lavalin, an international engineering and construction company based in in Montreal. That same year, Mr. Trudeau wearing blackface or brownface as a student in the 1990s and as a teacher at a private prep school in 2001.

Fighting: The adherence of Mr. Trudeau’s power fell in September when the left-wing New Democratic Party deprived the Liberals of the guaranteed support needed to pass the law. This week, Chrystia Freeland, the deputy prime minister and finance minister, abruptly canceled the move, a stinging rebuke to Mr Trudeau.

What will happen if Mr. Trudeau resigning?

If he leaves the position of party leader, he will no longer be the prime minister. But how he might go down is important.

Mr. Trudeau has two options: He can say he will step down once the party has a new leader, in the coming weeks or months.

Even if he may step down soon. If so, the party would appoint an interim leader, who would not be able to run for leadership under Liberal Party rules.

The next step will be to head to the federal election under the new Liberal leadership. Canada’s next election must be held in October 2025, but a vote could be called or forced earlier.

The next federal election can be postponed at any time in two ways. Mr. Trudeau has the power to dissolve Parliament at any time, and that could lead to an election. Or, if the opposition were to defeat the Liberal government through a motion of confidence or vote down the budget bill, the government would fall, and an election would follow.

Who are the most vying to follow him?

Conservatives: Pierre Poilievre has led the Conservative Party since 2022, calling himself the anti-Trudeau, active and down to earth. He supported the blockade of the Canadian capital, Ottawa, in 2022 led by truck drivers who were against vaccination laws and pandemic restrictions. Mr. Poilievre has been eyeing government since at least 1999, when as a university student he wrote a prize-winning essay on what he would do as prime minister.

Liberals: After her resignation this week, there was speculation that Chrystia Freeland, former deputy prime minister and finance minister, will launch his own bid to lead the Liberal Party. Other competitors include Dominic LeBlanc, who became finance minister when Ms Freeland resigned; Mélanie Joly, Canadian consular officer from 2021; and Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada, who also led the Bank of England.

Matina Stevis-Gridneff reporting contributed.