The Liberal Party of Canada will decide on March 9 who will succeed Trudeau

TORONTO — Canada’s ruling Liberal Party will announce the country’s next prime minister on March 9 after a leadership vote following the resignation of Justin Trudeau this month, party leaders said.

Trudeau remains prime minister until a new leader is chosen.

The frontrunners for the Liberal leadership are former central banker Mark Carney and former finance minister. Chrystia Freeland, whose abrupt resignation Last month, Trudeau forced his departure.

Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly, for her part, decided not to enter the race. Joly said that while she is ready to become the first woman to lead the Liberal party, she is not willing to leave her cabinet post at a “crucial time” for Canada-U.S. relations.

“The reality is I can’t do both,” she told reporters on Parliament Hill on Friday.

Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc dashed the hopes of many of his fellow lawmakers Wednesday by becoming the first Cabinet minister to rule out a leadership bid.

The Liberal Party’s National Board of Directors announced the rules for the race Thursday evening.

“After a robust and secure nationwide process, the Liberal Party of Canada will choose a new leader on March 9 and will be ready to fight and win the 2025 election,” said party president Sachit Mehra. in a press release.

The political upheaval comes at a difficult time for Canada. United States President-elect Donald Trump continues to refer to Canada as the 51st state and has threatened to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian products.

The next Liberal leader could be the shortest-serving prime minister in the country’s history. The three opposition parties have pledged to overthrow the Liberal minority government in a vote of no confidence after Parliament resumes on March 24.

Recent polls suggest the Liberals’ chances of winning the next election appear slim. In the latest Nanos poll, the Liberals trail the opposition Conservatives 45% to 23%.

Trudeau announced his resignation Monday after facing a growing loss of support both within his party and the country.

The 53-year-old descendant of Pierre Trudeau, one of Canada’s most famous prime ministers, has become deeply unpopular with voters over a range of issues, including soaring food and housing prices as well as the sharp increase in immigration.

Trudeau told Freeland last month that he no longer wanted her to be finance minister, but that she could remain deputy prime minister and point person for U.S.-Canada relations.

Freeland resigned shortly afterward and issued a scathing letter against the government that proved to be the final straw for the embattled leader. She spoke to her colleagues this week to discuss next steps.

After his resignation, Trump called Freeland “totally toxic” and “not at all deal-making.” Freeland was Canada’s point person when the United States, Canada and Mexico overhauled their free trade agreement during the first Trump administration.

Freeland is a combination of several things that seem to irritate Trump: a liberal, a Canadian, and a former journalist. Freeland, who is of Ukrainian descent, is also a strong supporter of Ukraine in his war against the Russian invasion.

Carney is a highly educated economist with Wall Street experience who is widely credited as Canada’s central bank chief for helping Canada avoid the worst of the 2008 crisis and for helping the United Kingdom manage Brexit. In 2012, he was appointed the first foreigner to serve as governor of the Bank of England since its establishment in 1694.

He has long wanted to enter politics and become prime minister, but lacks political experience. He said in a statement this week that he was encouraged by the support he received and would consider his decision with his family over the coming days.

The Liberal Party said the fee to enter the leadership race will be C$350,000 ($243,000) and candidates will have to declare it by January 23. The party said party leadership voters must be Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

Gillies writes for the Associated Press.