The Liberal Party of Canada (LPC) has announced that the election of a new leader to replace Justin Trudeau will take place on March 9, 2025, Reuters reported. Trudeau, who has led the party since 2013, said on Monday that he plans to step down as leader. He stressed that he would remain prime minister and continue to lead the Liberals temporarily until his successor is elected.
Trudeau's decision came under pressure from LDP MPs who are demanding a change in the leadership position due to the party's declining ratings, reflected in recent public opinion polls.
An official press release issued after a meeting of the party leadership said:
"The Liberal Party of Canada will elect a new leader on March 9 and will be ready to fight and win the 2025 election."
The same meeting also discussed the initial rules for the upcoming leadership race. Registration for participation will close on January 27, and the candidacy fee has been set at 350,000 Canadian dollars (about 243,000 US dollars). The name of the new leader is expected to be announced on the day of the vote.
Among the candidates for the leadership position are former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney, the Canadian newspaper "Globe and Mail" reported.
Justin Trudeau, who is now 53, took office as prime minister in November 2015 and has been re-elected twice. This made him Canada's longest-serving prime minister. However, his popularity began to decline two years ago, affected by public problems such as the high cost of living and a housing shortage. So far, his rating has failed to recover.