Following more than a year of plummeting poll numbers and surging pressure from within his own caucus to step aside, Justin Trudeau told Canadians Monday that he will resign as Liberal leader and prime minister as soon as a new leader is chosen.

SA国际影视传媒淭his country deserves a real choice in the next election and it has become clear to me that if ISA国际影视传媒檓 having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,SA国际影视传媒� a teary-eyed Trudeau said outside his official residence in Ottawa Monday morning.

Trudeau said he had reflected on his political future over the holidays and told his kids about his decision over dinner Sunday.

He also said he met with Gov. Gen. Mary Simon on Monday morning and that she has agreed to his request to prorogue Parliament until March 24.

Calls for him to step aside have been gaining steam for months but internal pressure from his own caucus rose to new heights after Chrystia Freeland quit as minister of finance and deputy prime minister on Dec. 16 after Trudeau had informed her he was going to move her out of the finance portfolio.

Her departure, hours before she was to table the fall economic statement in the House of Commons sent shock waves through the government and the party.

ItSA国际影视传媒檚 the first time the prime minister has taken questions from media since Freeland stepped down from cabinet last month, although he has limited his public appearances throughout the past year as pressure mounted against him.

Questions about TrudeauSA国际影视传媒檚 future have been swirling since support for his party began to tumble in 2023. The Liberals have trailed the Conservatives by more than 20 points for more than a year now.

He said he asked for Parliament to be prorogued because the House of Commons has been paralyzed for months through obstruction and needs a reset. Proroguing Parliament will put the legislature on pause for two months and wipe clear the current slate of legislation and delay opportunities for non-confidence votes that could trigger an election.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 time for the temperature to come down, for people to have a fresh start in parliament to be able to navigate through these complex times domestically and internationally,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淩emoving me from the equation as the leader who will fight the next election for the Liberal party should also decrease the level of polarization weSA国际影视传媒檙e seeing right now in the House and in Canadian politics.SA国际影视传媒�

The House of Commons had been scheduled to return Jan. 27 but the Conservatives intended to begin pushing a new non-confidence vote in a committee as early as this week.

In the meantime, Trudeau said he asked Liberal party president Sachit Mehra Sunday night to immediately launch a leadership race ahead of the next election.

Mehra said in a statement Monday that he will call a national board meeting this week to begin the SA国际影视传媒渘ation-wide democratic process of selecting a new leader of the party.SA国际影视传媒�

The next election has to be held by October of this year, but an earlier vote appears much more likely.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre sought to immediately cast this as a desperate political move by a sputtering Liberal party, whose MPs stood by their leader right up until he cratered in the polls and was no longer a viable candidate.

SA国际影视传媒淭heir only objection is that he is no longer popular enough to win an election and keep them in power,SA国际影视传媒� Poilievre said in a statement. SA国际影视传媒淭hey want to protect their pensions and paycheques by sweeping their hated leader under the rug months before an election to trick you, and then do it all over again.SA国际影视传媒�

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh also said this move changes nothing in the political landscape as Canadians struggle with the high cost of living the government has failed to fix.

SA国际影视传媒淚t doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 matter who leads the Liberals,SA国际影视传媒� Singh said in a statement. SA国际影视传媒淭hey donSA国际影视传媒檛 deserve another chance.SA国际影视传媒�

BREAKING NEWS: Justin Trudeau has announced he will resign as prime minister and Liberal party leader following a leadership contest. Speaking outside his residence in Ottawa, Trudeau confirmed Governor General Mary Simon has agreed to prorogue Parliament until March 24. He has asked Liberal party president Sachit Mehra to launch a leadership race immediately. Trudeau stated Canadians deserve a real choice in the next election. Speculation about TrudeauSA国际影视传媒檚 future intensified after Chrystia FreelandSA国际影视传媒檚 sudden resignation in December.

TrudeauSA国际影视传媒檚 decision comes two weeks before Donald Trump is sworn back into office as president of the United States and Trudeau will remain at the helm during what is expected to be a rocky start to TrumpSA国际影视传媒檚 second term in the Oval Office. Trump has threatened to impose steep import tariffs on all Canadian goods the day he is inaugurated.

Following his announcement Monday, Trudeau was still expected to attend a cabinet committee on Canada-U.S. relations Monday, chaired by Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in a statement following TrudeauSA国际影视传媒檚 announcement that the federal government SA国际影视传媒渕ust urgently explain to Canadians how they will avoid tariffs that could have devastating effects on our economy.SA国际影视传媒�

Canadian Chamber of Commerce CEO Candace Laing said Trudeau read the room correctly and that this was the right call.

SA国际影视传媒淗is resignation marks a turning point as Canada tackles unprecedented domestic and international challenges,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淐anadaSA国际影视传媒檚 next prime minister must hit the ground running and be laser-focused on strengthening the Canada-U.S. trade relationship.SA国际影视传媒�