By South China Morning Post | Created at 2025-01-06 19:36:37 | Updated at 2025-01-11 04:43:35
4 days ago
Justin Trudeau, who said on Monday he would resign as Liberal prime minister once the party names a new leader, led Canada for more than nine years before former allies turned against him.
Trudeau, 53, the son of long-time former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, was born into the public eye and inherited his father’s sense of style and showmanship. He is one of the few Canadian leaders to win three consecutive terms in office.
During his time in power, Canada overcame two major crises: the pandemic and then-US president Donald Trump’s demand to renegotiate the trilateral trade deal with Mexico.
Trudeau is an avowed feminist committed to gender parity in his cabinets who was ultimately brought down by an ugly break-up with former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, the most powerful woman in his political life.
Trudeau took over as Liberal leader in 2013 when the party was in deep trouble and had been reduced to third place in the House of Commons for the first time.
Yet by pushing an upbeat message of “sunny ways”, and taking advantage of voter fatigue with the Conservative government, Trudeau propelled his party into power in the 2015 election.
