Canada's Liberal Party Faces Political Challenges - New Leader to Be Elected on March 9, Freeland and Carney in Discussion

Canada's Liberal Party Faces Political Challenges - New Leader to Be Elected on March 9, Freeland and Carney in Discussion

Ottawa, January 10 (Reuters): Canada's outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party has announced that a new leader will be elected on March 9 ahead of the 2025 elections. The party's leadership felt the need for new leadership due to their weak position in public opinion polls.

Prime Minister Trudeau announced on Monday that he would step down in the coming months. After nine years in power, he made this decision under pressure from lawmakers concerned about the party's poor standing. Speaking to reporters at Rideau Cottage in Ottawa, Trudeau said he would continue to serve as Prime Minister and leader of the Liberal Party until a new leader is elected.

The Liberal Party's National Board of Directors met on Thursday evening to outline the initial rules for the leadership election process. The party stated in a press release, "Through a robust and secure nationwide process, the Liberal Party will elect a new leader on March 9 and be ready to win the 2025 election."

Former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland and former central banker Mark Carney are reportedly preparing to contest for the Liberal Party leadership. However, Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Innovation Minister François-Philippe Champagne are yet to decide if they will join the race.

Candidates for the Liberal Party leadership must pay a fee of 350,000 Canadian dollars (approximately 243,000 US dollars). They must register by January 27 and vote in the leadership election.

Trudeau announced on Monday that Parliament would be suspended until March 24, making it unlikely for an election to occur before May. However, the next Canadian election must be held by October 20. According to public opinion polls, voters are ready to elect the opposition Conservatives and deliver a significant defeat to the Liberals, regardless of who leads the party.

The latest Nanos poll shows that the Liberal Party trails the Conservatives by 23 percent, with the Conservatives holding 45 percent support.