By Vjosa Isai
Chrystia Freeland, the former deputy prime minister of Canada, whose abrupt resignation in December was pivotal to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement to resign, declared late last week her intention to run for his position.
She shared her announcement on the social platform X with a brief six-word statement: “I’m running to fight for Canada.”
Freeland, 56, previously a key supporter of Trudeau, often referred to as his “minister of everything,” had been deputy prime minister since 2019 and had long been considered a potential successor.
However, a deep rift formed between them when Trudeau attempted to downgrade her role during a Zoom call in December, offering her a minister-without-portfolio position. Rather than accept, she chose to resign and issued a strong condemnation of Trudeau’s leadership as Canada braces for interactions with President-elect Donald Trump, who has indicated intentions to impose tariffs on Canadian exports to the United States.
Her abrupt exit unsettled Trudeau’s tenuous hold on authority. Three weeks later, on January 6, he proclaimed his intention to step down as leader of the Liberal Party and as prime minister once a new leader is chosen.
Candidates vying for the leadership will campaign ahead of a national vote among party members scheduled for March. The incoming leader of the Liberal Party will also assume the role of prime minister of Canada and spearhead the party in the general election anticipated in the spring.
Freeland mentioned she would officially kick off her campaign in person on Sunday, likely in Toronto, the electoral district she represents in parliament. She is expected to encounter significant challenges convincing Canadians that she is the most suitable candidate to confront the Conservative Party and its leader, Pierre Poilievre.
The Conservatives, who currently lead the Liberals by 25 percentage points in polls, have attempted to frame Freeland as part of the issue due to her previously close ties with Trudeau and her significant involvement in his governments since he took office in 2015.
Trudeau’s popularity has plummeted in recent years, with Canadians growing increasingly dissatisfied with the persistently high cost of living, affecting everything from housing to groceries.
A considerable number of Canadians have also begun to push back against the government’s immigration policies, which have led to 2.3 million arrivals in the country over the past two years.
