Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday it looked like he would lose power early next year after a key ally said he would move to topple the small Liberal government and trigger an election.
New Leader of Democratic Party Jagmeet Singhwho has been helping keep Trudeau in office, has said he will table a motion of no confidence after the House of Commons returns from winter recess on January 27.
NEWT GINGRICH SAYS TRUMP MAY HAVE 'DIVED UP' THE TRUDEAU GOVERNMENT AT THE END OF HISTORY.
If all opposition parties support the move, Trudeau will be gone after more than nine years as prime minister and there will be an election.
A series of elections over the past 18 months showed the Liberals, suffering from election fatigue and anger over high prices and the housing crisis, would be badly defeated by the official opposition of the center Conservatives.
The New Democrats, who like the Liberals who aim to attract the support of voters on the left, complain that Trudeau is seen as too much of a big business.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addresses the Liberal Party Caucus meeting in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada on December 16, 2024. (REUTERS/Blair Gable/File Photo)
“Irrespective of who leads the Liberal Party, this government's time is over. We will present a clear no-confidence motion in the next session of the House of Commons,” Singh said.
The leader of the Bloc Quebecois, the main opposition party, has promised to support the process and said there is no situation where Trudeau is spared. The Conservatives have been calling for an election for months.
Minutes after Singh delivered his letter a smiling Trudeau, under increasing pressure to resign following the resignation of his finance minister this week, presided over cabinet confusion.
Trudeau's office was not immediately available for comment.
Votes on budgets and other spending are considered confidence measures. In addition, the government must give several days each session to the opposition parties if they can express their views on any issue, including no confidence.
Before Singh made the announcement, a source close to Trudeau said the Prime Minister would take Christmas off to reflect on his future and there was no chance of an announcement before January.
Liberal leaders are elected by special meetings of party members, which take months to organize.
Singh's promise to act quickly means that even if Trudeau were to resign now, the Liberals would not find a new long-term leader for the next election. The party would then have to compete against an interim leader, something that has never happened before in Canada.
So far, about 20 Liberal lawmakers are calling on Trudeau to step down but his council has remained loyal.
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The crisis comes at a critical time, as US President-elect Donald Trump is set to take office on January 20. and promises to levy a 25% tax on everyone. from Canadawhich would seriously damage the economy.
Leaders of 10 provinces, which want to create a unified fee system, are complaining about what they call chaos in Ottawa.