Canada’s Trudeau could announce resignation as early as today

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to resign from his post as early as today, the Globe and Mail reported, citing three sources familiar with the matter, Agenzia Nova reports.

The resignation would in any case come before a meeting of the Liberal Party’s national caucus (of which Trudeau is leader), scheduled for Wednesday.

The likely resignation comes after a long political crisis that began in September, when Trudeau faced a vote of no confidence in parliament that later failed, despite efforts by the Conservative Party to remove him from office.

Also on December 16, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland announced she was resigning from her post following disagreements with Trudeau over U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Canada.

Subsequently, in December, one of Trudeau's key allies, New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, announced his intention to table a formal motion of no confidence in the prime minister on January 27.

News of Trudeau’s likely resignation comes as his popularity continues to decline in Canada, where a national election is scheduled for October 20 this year.

The country continues to suffer from a housing crisis, falling GDP per capita and high inflation, among other problems. As of December 24, Trudeau had a disapproval rating of about 68 per cent, with a meager 28 per cent of Canadians supporting him, according to Canadian pollster Angus Reid.

Trudeau’s personal choices have also contributed to backlash from his opponents. In late November, the prime minister faced international criticism after he was spotted dancing at a Taylor Swift concert in Toronto while violent protests raged in his hometown of Montreal.

Earlier it was reported that President-elect Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to imposing new tariffs on imports from Mexico, Canada, and China, framing the move as a response to the fentanyl crisis and other border concerns.