Liberals to name interim leader to take over as prime minister if Trudeau steps down
If Trudeau resigns, the Liberals will name an interim leader to take over as prime minister while the party sets up a special leadership convention.
Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is likely to step down as the country’s premier as he has been under increasing pressure to quit since Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned over a policy clash.
However, a source familiar with the PM’s mindset has said that he has not made a final decision.
Trudeau’s departure would leave the party without a permanent head at a time when polls show the Liberals will badly lose to the official opposition Conservatives in an election that must be held by late October.
Amid looming political turmoil, let’s review potential ways forward for the country:
Resignation
If Trudeau resigns, the Liberals will name an interim leader to take over as prime minister while the party sets up a special leadership convention.
The challenge for the party is that these conventions usually take months to arrange, and if an election does occur before then, the Liberals would be in the hands of a prime minister not chosen by members.
Prospects of losing party leadership
Unlike Britain, where party leaders are chosen by the parliamentary caucus and can be removed quickly, the Liberal leader is selected by a special convention of members.
There is therefore no formal party mechanism to remove Trudeau if he wants to stay.
Parliament’s role
Canadian governments must show they have the confidence of the House of Commons elected chamber. Votes on budgets and other spending are considered confidence measures and if a government loses one, it falls. In virtually all cases, an election campaign starts immediately.
Other ways to oust
Ultimate constitutional power in Canada lies with Governor General Mary Simon, who is the personal representative of King Charles, the head of state. She can, in theory, remove Trudeau, but in real life, this would not happen.
“The governor general won’t dismiss a prime minister who still holds the confidence of the Commons,” said Philippe Lagasse, a professor and constitutional expert at Ottawa’s Carleton University.
PM’s options
Trudeau could prorogue parliament, which would formally end the current session and give him some breathing space.
Under this scenario, the return of the House would be delayed by several weeks, allowing the government to unveil a new plan for how it plans to run the country.
This would have the advantage of delaying any motion of no-confidence, but it could further anger Liberal legislators, especially if Trudeau were still prime minister.
