Rebellion in the Ruling Alliance
Among the leaders of the ruling party, Anita Anand, presently Transport Minister, the former Finance Minister, Chrystia Freeland, and formal central banker Mark Carney (a position equivalent to the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India), have emerged as the front-runners for the prime minister’s office in Canada.
The present incumbent Justine Trudeau, has already announced his intention to quit the coveted office, but is expected to remain in office till March 24 this year.
The recently held opinion polls indicate that if a Canadian election were to be held today, the country’s main Opposition, Conservative Party, under the leadership of Pierre Poilievre, would win decisively. Since 2022, Poilievre has successfully been able to brand himself as anti-elite and anti-Trudeau, a down-to-earth everyman. His suspension in April, 2024 after refusing to apologise for calling Trudeau a “wacko” and “extremist” during a question period could not adversely affect his political position.
It is being stated that Trudeau’s intention to quit the office of the prime minister and the presidency of the party should have been accompanied by allowing the ruling Liberal Party to select a new leader without, especially in this election year. It may be recalled that his political fortune was at its zenith, when he had led his party to power in 2015.
Justin Trudeau’s recent intention to quit, perhaps, have amused political observers across the continents, especially from Washington and London. They have close ties with Canada. It is stated that even being entrenched in the office for a decade, he could not really attain the stature of a statesman, but his decision to prorogue the House of Commons till March 24, has shown that he just wanted time to avoid being toppled in a no-confidence motion in the Canadian parliament. In this process, if the ruling party fails to elect a leader promptly, he might remain in the office till his successor his chosen, but the final decision has to be taken before March 24.
His supporters, however, considered it a political master-stroke by being toppled immediately in a no-confidence motion. In the Canadian history, he might be remembered for his histrionics being played in the strife-stricken Canadian politics of a hero before fading in the history.
Justin’s political misfortunes, according to some political observers, began when he got himself being identified with Islamists and the Sikh separatists, perhaps, being advised by the American Deep State. The majority of the ruling party did not approve his opportunistic alliances with the separatists at the cost of annoying India, a long-term friend. It may be noted that apart from being a sizeable presence of people of Indian origin, India has always been grateful to Canada for setting up a nuclear reactor in Trombe, Mumbai, helping her to explore the high-ending technologies.
The resignation of Chrystia Freeland in December 2024 has further exposed his political weakness; thus, turning the political crisis into a tsunami. Being a scion of one of the most well-known families of Canada, Justin was expected to resolve the political issues, he could have made an impact on the world politics. It may be recalled when he was born of December 25, 1971, his father Pierre Trudeau was the prime minister of Canada. Interestingly, he also represented the two prominent European cultures, French and Scottish. His ancestry is also quite illustrious. Among his grandfathers, Charles-Emile Trudeau was a businessman and Scottish-born, James Sinclair was a minister of fisheries in the Canadian government during PM, Louis St. Laurent. One of Justin’s ancestors, Major-General William Farquhar, had played a key-role in establishing modern Singapore.
By announcing his intention to quit, Trudeau has thwarted a defeat of his government on the floor at least for the time being. The government needs the backing of a majority of the 338 members of parliament in a no-confidence vote. The Liberals are facing a deficit 17 seats requiring the support from members of Canada’s other parties. The government has been surviving with the support of the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP). However, after Trudeau announced he would step aside, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said he would vote to bring down the Liberal Party Government, no matter who the leader is. “They do not deserve another chance,” he said. However, if Anita Anand is chosen, the NDP might revise its decision. The federal elections in Canada are scheduled in October.
Gopal Misra has been associated with national and international media. His books on journalism and geo-politics have been well-appreciated. Views are personal.
