Canadian PM Trudeau’s Tenure in Trouble as Pressure to Resign Mounts from Party Members

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been asked to step down from his position by elected members of his party. The pressure to resign was built in a caucus meeting held on Wednesday, where nearly 153 members of the Liberal party were present, according to the New York Times. In the meeting, reportedly, Trudeau was presented with a letter signed by nearly 24 caucus party members, seeking his resignation by October 28. 

The urgency created by the members for Trudeau’s resignation is to avoid defeat in the upcoming election, which is likely to be held in October next year. According to CBC News, Trudeau, after the meeting, said he would reflect on the concerns raised by the members in the meeting. 

“Fundamentally, this is something that has been simmering for some time and it’s important for people to get it out. This isn’t a code red situation. The prime minister can sure as hell handle the truth,” Canada’s Immigration Minister Marc Miller told CBC News. 

Why is dissatisfaction mounting against Trudeau? 

Trudeau, who has been serving as Canada’s PM for nearly nine years now, has suddenly become unpopular as dissatisfaction from his own party has increased. The move seeking his removal has come after the party lost two by-elections, one in LaSalle-Emard-Verdun, a district that had a stronghold of Liberals for around 50 years, and other one is downtown Toronto. 

Moreover, time and again he has come under the radar of his opposition. His main opponent, the Conservative Party’s Pierre Poilievre, has accused him of winning two elections with China’s aid. 

“Justin Trudeau is doing what he always does: he is lying. He is lying to distract from a liberal caucus revolt against his leadership and revelations he knowingly allowed Beijing to interfere and help him win two elections,” said Poilievre. 

Additionally, Poilievre accused that Trudeau made misleading claims regarding India’s interference in Ottawa’s internal affairs. The recent expulsion of six Canadian diplomats by India has further mounted troubles for him and has left uncertainty around Trudeau’s leadership.