Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to Step Down as Leader of Liberal Party

TIME

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is stepping down as the leader of the ruling Liberal Party, following months of pressure from partymates to resign amid increasingly poor public approval ratings.

Transcript

00:00My friends, as you all know, I'm a fighter.

00:04Every bone in my body has always told me to fight because I care deeply about Canadians.

00:11I care deeply about this country.

00:13And I will always be motivated by what is in the best interest of Canadians.

00:21And the fact is, despite best efforts to work through it, Parliament has been paralyzed

00:28for months, after what has been the longest session of a minority Parliament in Canadian

00:35history.

00:36That's why, this morning, I advised the Governor-General that we need a new session

00:43of Parliament.

00:44She has granted this request, and the House will now be prorogued until March 24th.

00:52Over the holidays, I've also had a chance to reflect and have had long talks with my

00:58family about our future.

01:01Throughout the course of my career, any success I have personally achieved has been because

01:07of their support and with their encouragement.

01:12So last night over dinner, I told my kids about the decision that I'm sharing with

01:16you today.

01:20I intend to resign as party leader, as Prime Minister, after the party selects its next

01:27leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process.

01:34Last night, I asked the President of the Liberal Party to begin that process.

01:40This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to

01:45me that if I'm having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election.

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