For months now, Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been asked variations of the same question: “Will you step down?”But though he vowed to stay on as Liberal Party leader – despite deepening frustrations amongst voters and a political rival surging in the polls – even the self-described “fighter” could not withstand the growing chorus of members of his own party calling for him to resign.”This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” Trudeau conceded on Monday, announcing his resignation in front of Rideau Cottage, his official residence for most of the last decade. He will stay on as prime minister until a new Liberal Party leader is chosen, at a date yet to be set by the party. Trudeau asked for parliament to be prorogued – or suspended – until 24 March to give time for the party to find a new leader.Trudeau swept to power nearly a decade ago, heralded as the fresh face of progressive politics.In 2015, swayed by his youthful charisma and a hopeful political message, voters catapulted the Liberals from a third-place party to holding a majority of seats in parliament – unprecedented in Canadian political history.Now, he remains the only leader left standing among peers when he came into office, from Barack Obama to Angela Merkel, Shinzo Abe and David Cameron, and at 53 years old, is currently the longest-serving leader in the G7.But in the years since his ascent to the global stage, and over two general elections, Trudeau and his brand have become a drag on the party’s fortunes.Paul Wells, a Canadian political journalist and the author of Justin Trudeau on the Ropes, recently told the BBC he believes Trudeau will be remembered “as a consequential” prime minister, n …
