Justin Trudeau Resigns As Canadian Prime Minister

deadline.com:

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down after nearly a decade in charge. During a hastily-assembled news conference outside his Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Trudeau said there will now be fresh Liberal Party leadership elections and parliament will be prorogued until March 24.

He said he advised the Canadian governor general this morning of his decision. Speculation has been swirling in the past few days that the announcement was incoming, although many didn’t expect Trudeau to resign this early.

Trudeau said that “despite the best efforts to work through it, parliament has been paralyzed for months after what has been the longest session of minority parliament in Canadian history.” He spoke of reflecting over the holidays on his position and told the press pack he was explaining to them a decision that he had told his kids about over dinner last night. “This country deserves real choice in the next election and it has become clear to me that if I have to fight internal battles I cannot be the best option in that election,” he said.

Trudeau is one of the longest-serving Canadian PMs, although he didn’t manage to match the tenure of his father, Pierre Trudeau.