Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he will step down as the leader of the Liberal Party. His decision comes ahead of an important meeting with party members on Wednesday. Many people have been waiting for this decision since it was expected for weeks.
Trudeau’s resignation is due to several challenges, including a weakening political environment and tension with the Khalistani supporters who recently showed they were no longer backing him. The Liberal Party might struggle in the upcoming election against the Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, as recent polls suggest they are at risk of losing a lot of votes.
Relations between Canada and the U.S. have soured too. Recently, President-elect Donald Trump suggested that Canada should become the 51st state of the U.S. with Trudeau as its leader. Trudeau also faces issues with India, especially after accusing the Indian government of being involved in the murder of an anti-Khalistani activist, a claim that India has denied vigorously.
Trudeau’s connections with Sikh community leaders, sensitive to the Khalistan movement, are under close watch. During Diwali celebrations at Parliament Hill in Ottawa, he acknowledged that while many support Khalistan, they do not represent all Sikhs in Canada. The Sikh community is important in Canada, making up over 2% of the population, which is about 800,000 people.
Trudeau’s government previously worked closely with some pro-Khalistani leaders. However, some Khalistani activists have criticized him for not advocating strongly enough for their cause. Jagmeet Singh, a leader from a party that has supported Trudeau, wrote an open letter saying Trudeau has failed to serve the people and that his party will try to bring down the government to help Canadians.
Amid these challenges, Trudeau’s resignation adds uncertainty to Canada’s political landscape.
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