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Discontent Brews Within Liberal Party as Trudeau Faces Pressure to Step Down

Thursday 24 October 2024 - 09:35

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Internal dissent has reached a boiling point within Canada’s Liberal Party, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is confronted with an ultimatum from disgruntled party members. During a recent closed-door caucus meeting, approximately 20 backbench MPs, none from the cabinet, urged Trudeau to resign ahead of what many anticipate will be a challenging electoral defeat. The group has set a deadline of October 28 for Trudeau to clarify his intentions regarding his leadership, though they have not specified any immediate consequences should he choose to remain.

With 153 Liberal MPs in total, the call for Trudeau's resignation reflects a significant but not overwhelming faction within the party. Despite the growing concerns about his leadership, no clear successor has emerged to challenge him. As he enters his ninth year in office, Trudeau's popularity has plummeted, with recent polls indicating that the Conservatives lead by nearly 20 points over the governing Liberals.

Recent by-election losses have further fueled skepticism among party members regarding Trudeau's viability as leader. The Liberals lost the LaSalle–Émard–Verdun riding, a seat they had held for over 50 years, and also suffered a defeat in a traditionally safe Toronto district. These setbacks have underscored a decline in public sentiment toward Trudeau's administration, exacerbated by rising living costs and a housing crisis.

Despite these pressures, Trudeau has expressed his determination to contest and win the next federal election, which is expected before fall 2025. Following the three-hour caucus meeting, senior cabinet members reiterated their support for him. Immigration Minister Marc Miller stated that the situation is not dire and acknowledged the courage of those who voiced their concerns directly to Trudeau.

Some MPs believe that if Trudeau and his inner circle implement substantial changes in policy and communication strategies, he could retain the confidence of the party. "The prime minister needs to heed the frustrations, some of which are quite legitimate, from his caucus colleagues," said Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith.

Emerging from the meeting, Trudeau maintained that "the Liberal party is strong and united," despite the evident discontent among some members. The coming days will be critical as he weighs his options against an increasingly restless faction within his own ranks.