Canadian PM Trudeau vows to lead Liberals into next election despite facing calls to quit
File photo of Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. Photograph:( Reuters )
Story highlights
Prime Minister Trudeau met with his Liberal members of Parliament for three hours Wednesday, where he learned that more than 20 lawmakers from his party signed a letter asking him to step down before the next election.
Prime Minister Trudeau met with his Liberal members of Parliament for three hours Wednesday, where he learned that more than 20 lawmakers from his party signed a letter asking him to step down before the next election.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Thursday (Oct 24) that he would lead his Liberal Party into the next election, dismissing a request by some party members not to run for a fourth term.
A report by the news agency Associated Press said that Prime Minister Trudeau met with his Liberal members of Parliament for three hours on Wednesday (Oct 23), where he learned that more than 20 lawmakers from his party signed a letter asking him to step down before the next election.
Trudeau said there were robust conversations ongoing about the best way forward, but “that will happen with me as leader going into the next election.”
A look at Trudeau's support
Trudeau’s Cabinet ministers have said he has the support of the vast majority of the 153 Liberal Party members of the House of Commons. Citing the latest poll by Nanos, the report said that the Liberals trail the Conservatives by 38 per cent to 25 per cent.
Also read | Trudeau breaks English: 'Brokenist' Canadian PM gets mocked in Parliament, internet for made-up word
The poll of 1,037 respondents has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.
Recently, the Liberal Party suffered upsets in special elections for seats representing two districts in Toronto and Montreal that the party has held for years, raising doubts about Trudeau’s leadership.
The federal election could come anytime between this fall and next October.
'Trudeau is seeing something I don't see'
Sean Casey, one of the Liberal lawmakers who signed the letter asking Trudeau to step down, said he was disappointed Trudeau didn’t take the time to reflect but said he now considers the matter done and he’s moving on.
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“This was a decision he had every right to make and he made it. I did my job in voicing what I was hearing from constituents and now I have to direct my energy to winning my seat and not internal party matters. As far as I’m concerned it is closed," Casey said during a press conference.
Casey added that he wouldn’t call it delusional but said Trudeau “is seeing something I don’t see, that my constituents don’t see.”
(With inputs from agencies)
