Faced with turmoil, a defiant Trudeau hangs on for now | Global News Avenue

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is heading into one of the worst weeks of his political career this season.

Trudeau put on a party face at the Liberals’ annual holiday gathering, despite being caught off guard by the sudden resignation of one of his most trusted allies, Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland, the day before. , just hours before she was due to make an economic announcement. parliament.

But even as some members of his own party called for him to leave, the prime minister struck a firm, defiant tone as he addressed party loyalists in a dark blue suit and tie.

He mentioned his “tough” week and likened it to a family fight.

He spoke of being “bold” and “ambitious” in the face of adversity and took a pointed dig at his political rival Pierre Poliyev, leader of Canada’s opposition Conservative Party.

Experts later said it sounded a lot like a campaign speech, and that Trudeau seemed to be holding on despite the recent political turmoil.

That position did not change on Friday even as Jagmeet Singh, leader of the country’s progressive New Democratic Party (NDP), said he would table a motion to overthrow the Trudeau government in the new year. It was the NDP’s support that kept the Liberals in power. Now it looks like an election is imminent.

However, Trudeau has so far given no indication that he will resign soon, although he has reportedly told other party members that he will take some time over the winter break to consider what to do.

Political observers say Trudeau’s often defiant spirit when under pressure has helped him weather many controversies during his nine years in power.

He is also often underestimated, such as when he won majority government in 2015 at the age of 44, despite his political opponents portraying him as an amateur.

But as pressure mounts for him to resign, some of these experts say he may need a new strategy.

When Trudeau first ran for prime minister, three words stuck with him: Not ready.

The phrase was the slogan of an attack ad that was aired repeatedly across the country as he sought to oust Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper, who has been in power since 2004.

It conveyed the common criticism he faced at the time, namely that he was young, relatively inexperienced and had a winding path into politics.

Canadian historian Raymond Blake said Trudeau spent his early years “kind of wandering around” before becoming a drama teacher in Vancouver. As the famous and wealthy son of former Prime Minister Pierre Elliott Trudeau, he seemed insular.

But soon after entering politics, Trudeau adopted a fighting stance.

Some say it’s a trait he learned from his father, who was known for his charismatic yet combative leadership style and for his catchphrase “Look at me.” crisis.

“His father came across as a really resilient, very tough politician,” said Lawrence Martin, a longtime Canadian political columnist based in Washington, D.C.

The younger Trudeau continued to defy the odds and score a historic victory for his Liberal Party, taking it from third place in Parliament to a majority in his first federal election.

“It made him feel like he could overcome huge obstacles,” Mr. Martin said, adding that politically, Trudeau appeared “very confident.”

After taking office, Trudeau was involved in many political scandals, and his road to power became bumpy.

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, the first Aboriginal woman to hold the position, resigned during her first term amid attempts to interfere and “veiled threats” from senior government officials. Seeking legal support for a company facing a corruption trial.

While vying for a second term in 2019, Trudeau’s re-election campaign was rocked by photos posted on at least three occasions that showed him wearing brownface as a young man.

A year later, in 2020, Trudeau faced another ethics scandal involving a potentially huge government contract for a youth charity working with members of the Trudeau family.

But in the face of every setback, Trudeau has retained power. He won re-election twice, becoming the longest-serving leader of the G7.

“Trudeau has survived,” Professor Black said, noting that despite the scandal, his political success and leadership have won the loyalty of many in his party.

While Trudeau has weathered many storms, there are signs that his time may have come.

For one, history is not on his side. Canada has had only one prime minister, the country’s first prime minister, Sir John A MacDonald, who served four consecutive terms.

Trudeau is also grappling with declining public opinion. An Ipsos poll in September showed about two-thirds of Canadians disapproved of him. Only 26% of respondents said Trudeau was their first choice for prime minister, 19 points behind Conservative leader Poliyev.

In addition, Trudeau’s support within his party has also gradually declined. So far, at least 18 Liberal MPs have called on their leader to step down.

“He’s delusional if he thinks we can continue like this,” New Brunswick MP Wayne Long told reporters this week.

“It’s not fair to us MPs, it’s not fair to ministers and most importantly, it’s not fair to the country. We need to move in a new direction, we need to reset.”

Long, who has pushed for Trudeau to step down, said as many as 50 of the 153 Liberal MPs want him to resign immediately. He said there’s about an equal number of Trudeau loyalists and the rest are on the fence.

“There are still party loyalists who like him and, you know, they still want to support him,” Mr Martin said. Columnist in Washington, DC. “But if the Liberal caucus held a secret vote on whether he should stay in office, he would be easily defeated.”

Martin said the prime minister also appeared to be staying because of his contempt for his political rival Poliev.

“He doesn’t want to give in, he really wants to challenge Pierre Plièvre, who he hates,” he said.

Trudeau’s dogged perseverance in the face of bleak political forecasts has drawn comparisons to outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden, who abandoned his campaign just months before the November election after mounting internal pressure. Candidacy.

Professor Black said Trudeau’s legacy, like Biden’s, will depend on how he exits. He said fighting a losing battle could leave Trudeau with “lasting scars.” But he noted that the Prime Minister has an extraordinary ability to survive.

“He’s a survivor, but he didn’t do normal things. Will normal – whatever that is – be normal this time? Maybe, but I don’t believe it.”

Trudeau’s dilemma is also similar to that faced by his father, who won three consecutive elections and a fourth less than a year after leaving office.

But by 1984, more than 15 years after first becoming prime minister, the elder Trudeau – like his son now – faced tough polls. It is clear that he will not win the next election if he remains in office. He decided to resign, telling the public he made the decision after taking a walk during a snowstorm in Ottawa.

Since then, the term “walking in the snow” has become synonymous with political resignation in Canada. It remains to be seen whether Trudeau will take the walk himself this Christmas.