Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation on Monday, stating that he would step down once the ruling Liberal Party selects a new leader. The announcement follows months of declining poll numbers and growing divisions within his party.

“I intend to resign as party leader and as prime minister after the party selects its next leader,” Trudeau said during a press conference in Ottawa. The Liberal leadership race, which he described as a “robust, nationwide competitive process,” is expected to commence immediately.

Trudeau, who has served as prime minister since 2015, did not provide a specific timeline for his departure. He indicated that he would continue in a caretaker capacity until the leadership transition is complete. This includes overseeing Canada’s response to potential challenges from the incoming US administration under Donald Trump, who has threatened to impose a 25% tariff on Canadian imports.

Trudeau’s position within the Liberal Party had been under strain for much of the past year. Matters worsened following the unexpected resignation of former finance minister and deputy prime minister Chrystia Freeland in December. In her resignation letter, Freeland criticised Trudeau for prioritising political gimmicks over sound financial policies, accusing him of implementing a costly Christmas tax holiday instead of stabilising the economy.

Speculation is rife about Freeland’s potential candidacy for party leadership, alongside Mark Carney, a former governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada. Political analyst Lori Turnbull noted that the party has limited time to organise a leadership race, which traditionally takes four to six months.

“If they don’t have a new leader ready for the next election, then there’s no point,” Turnbull told AFP.

Trudeau’s Liberal minority government has been struggling to maintain its footing in parliament. The party narrowly survived three no-confidence votes late last year with the support of the left-wing New Democratic Party (NDP). However, the NDP has since announced its intention to topple Trudeau’s government at the next opportunity.

To buy time, Trudeau sought and received approval from Canada’s governor general to suspend parliamentary activities until 24 March. This move may allow the Liberals to select a new leader while limiting opposition efforts to initiate a no-confidence vote.