Canada’s Liberals to Choose Trudeau’s Successor as Party Leader, Next PM

Canada’s Liberal Party is set to elect a new leader on March 9, following Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation. The winner will replace Trudeau as party leader and prime minister, potentially triggering an early national election.

Why Is a Leadership Race Needed?

Unlike Australia and Britain, where party legislators select prime ministers, Canada requires party members to vote in special leadership contests. Trudeau’s resignation in January automatically triggered the race.

Who Are the Main Contenders?

Polling suggests ex-central bank governor Mark Carney holds a strong lead over former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, whose resignation last December contributed to the Liberal Party’s internal crisis. Former cabinet minister Karina Gould is also in the race but is considered an underdog.

Who Can Vote?

The contest is open to all registered Liberal Party members, including Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Membership is free, and as of January 30, around 400,000 people had signed up to vote.

How Is the Leader Chosen?

The ranked ballot system distributes votes across 343 parliamentary constituencies (ridings), each carrying 100 points. Points are awarded based on the percentage of votes received in each riding.

If no candidate secures more than 50% of the points in the first round, the lowest-ranked candidate is eliminated, and their votes are reallocated based on second-choice preferences. This process repeats until a winner surpasses 50%.

What Happens Next?

The winner will be announced on March 9 at a Liberal Party gathering in Ottawa. The new prime minister could call an early election or face a confidence vote in Parliament later in March. If opposition parties unite against the Liberals, the government could collapse, forcing a national election before the scheduled October 20 deadline.

Election Uncertainty

The Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre, remains ahead in polls, though the gap with the Liberals has narrowed since Trudeau announced his resignation. U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent threats of tariffs on Canadian imports have further added to political uncertainty.

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