In brief
Chrystia Freeland, once a trusted ally of Justin Trudeau, has decided to run for Prime Minister after a fallout with him. Now, she aims to challenge the Conservative Party led by Pierre Poilievre.
Freeland's official declaration to replace Justin Trudeau comes after a tumultuous period in Canadian politics. On January 17, 2025, she publicly announced her campaign on social media with the message, "I’m running to fight for Canada." Previously serving as deputy prime minister since 2019, she was known for her influential role but experienced a significant rift with Trudeau when he attempted to demote her during a Zoom call last December. Instead of accepting the new minister-without-portfolio role, she resigned and criticized his leadership, weakening Trudeau’s hold on power.Following Freeland's departure, Trudeau announced on January 6 that he would step down as the leader of the Liberal Party and prime minister. The leadership race will culminate in a national vote among party members in March, with the new leader set to face an election against the Conservatives in the spring.As Freeland prepares to kick off her campaign this Sunday in Toronto, she faces the substantial challenge of convincing Canadians that she is the best candidate to combat Poilievre and the Conservative agenda.
