Under growing pressure from his own party, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced his resignation, ending a nine-year tenure.
Trudeau stated that he will remain in office until his Liberal Party selects a new leader and that Parliament will be dissolved or suspended by March 24.
“This country deserves a real choice in the next parliamentary elections. It’s clear to me that if I have to fight internal battles, I can’t be the best option in those elections,” Trudeau said during a press conference.
Trudeau’s unpopularity among Canadians has increasingly become a significant hurdle for his party ahead of the federal elections set to take place this year.
The opposition Conservative Party currently holds a commanding lead in pre-election polls.