Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation amid internal party pressure, ending a tenure marked by controversies, including ethical breaches, inappropriate gestures, and public missteps, which overshadowed his leadership since 2015.
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau resigns ahead Of general elections(AP Photo)
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to resign as head of Government and leader of the Liberal Party on Monday was triggered by mounting pressure from within his party for a leadership change.
"I intend to resign as party leader as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide competitive process," Trudeau told reporters while addressing the much-awaited press conference.
Since taking office in November 2015, Trudeau has faced numerous scandals that have dented his image and raised questions about his leadership both within and out of his party.
Here’s the lowdown to Trudeau’s resignation:
Winking in Parliament
Trudeau created a storm and got stuck in criticism back in October 2023, when he baited the first Black Canadian speaker in Parliament with objectionable gestures. He stuck his tongue out and winked at the newly elected Speaker Greg Fergus when he was introducing him.
The video of the incident went viral, drawing backlash for perceived disrespect. When Fergus introduced Trudeau as an “honourable Prime Minister,” the latter corrected him by saying, “very honourable,” followed by the wink.
Holiday on Aga Khan’s Island
In 2016, Trudeau vacationed at the private island of billionaire Aga Khan, which led to accusations of conflict of interest. Canada’s ethics watchdog said Trudeau had breached ethical rules as the Aga Khan Foundation was registered to lobby Trudeau’s officials. Trudeau later accepted the report and pledged to clear future vacations with the watchdog.
Singing Before Queen Elizabeth’s Funeral
In an embarrassing incident in September 2022, Trudeau was caught singing pop singer Freddie Mercury's "Bohemian Rhapsody” in a London hotel lobby two days before Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. However, Trudeau’s team defended his actions, stating that he was participating in activities to honor the late monarch.
The SNC-Lavalin Scandal
In 2019, Trudeau became the first Canadian Prime Minister to have formally been found to have breached ethics rules. He admitted to the erroneous action of attempting to influence federal prosecutors to prevent corruption charges against SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. Though he later took full responsibility for the incident, he did not apologize. Instead, he said that his actions were aimed at protecting Canadian jobs.
Jaspal Atwal Row
During Trudeau’s 2018 visit to India, a major uproar occurred when Khalistan separatist Jaspal Atwal, convicted of attempting to murder a Punjab Minister, attended events hosted for Trudeau. Atwal’s appearance, and his photograph with Trudeau’s wife Sophie, led to significant embarrassment for him during his first State visit to India.
Published By:
indiatodayglobal
Published On:
Jan 7, 2025