Beleaguered Justin Trudeau announces he won’t run in Canada’s next election, may exit politics

The announcement marks an unexpected conclusion to his political career, which began a decade ago with widespread acclaim for his youthful energy and vision.

“In terms of my own decisions, I will not be running in the upcoming election,” Trudeau said during a press conference, reported Global News of Canada on Wednesday.

When asked about his post-political plans, Trudeau admitted he had not given it much thought.

“As to what I might be doing later, I honestly haven’t had much time to think about that at all. I am entirely focused on doing the job that Canadians elected me to do in an extraordinarily pivotal time right now,” he added.

Trudeau also held meetings with Canada’s premiers, the country’s ambassador to the U.S., and several federal cabinet ministers to deliberate on Canada’s response to tariff threats posed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.

“There’s always a lot of politics going on around this country, but to know when to step up in the Canadian national interest, and to know that that’s what Canadians want to see, is really to the credit of everyone around this table,” Trudeau remarked during the press conference.

Recently, Trudeau declared his intention to step down as Prime Minister once the Liberal Party of Canada selects a new leader.

The new party leader will serve as interim Prime Minister until the general elections, which are likely to take place in October 2025.

Although he will remain a Member of Parliament for a few months after stepping down, Trudeau will no longer hold a seat in Parliament following his decision not to contest the next election.

“I do want to say that (Saskatchewan Premier) Scott (Moe) and (Ontario Premier) Doug (Ford), and a number of the folks who’ve been around a while have been extraordinarily invaluable in these conversations, in this Team Canada approach,” Trudeau added, praising his collaborators.

This abrupt decision to step down comes amid a steep decline in Trudeau's popularity and that of the Liberal Party.

His administration has faced criticism for strained relations with the U.S. and India, along with domestic dissatisfaction over issues such as immigration, inflation, employment, and housing.

Meanwhile, speculation is rife that former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney might enter the race to succeed Trudeau, City News reported, adding that he could announce his candidacy on January 16.

Polls indicate a significant lead for Pierre Poilievre and the Conservative Party over Trudeau's Liberals, adding further challenges for the party ahead of the anticipated 2025 elections.