International
Justin Trudeau announces his resignation from the leadership of his party and as Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, announced on Monday his resignation as prime minister and leader of the Liberal Party at a press conference after remaining in power for more than nine years.
“I intend to resign as party leader and as prime minister after the party selects its next leader through a competitive and rigorous process at the national level,” Trudeau said.
The prime minister explained that, although he is a “fighter”, he has come to the conclusion that he is not the “best option” for the next elections, scheduled for October, and therefore he has decided to step aside.
“During the holidays, I have also had the opportunity to reflect and I have had long conversations with my family about my future,” he explained to add: “Yest night, during dinner, I communicated my decision to my children.”
The decision means that Trudeau will remain provisionally as Prime Minister of Canada until the Liberals find a replacement.
“The Liberal Party of Canada is an important institution in the history of our great country and our democracy. A new prime minister and party leader will maintain the ideas and values of the Liberal Party,” he explained.
Trudeau, who came to power at the end of 2015, faces the collapse of his image in opinion polls and a growing rebellion within the Liberal Party, aggravated by the unexpected resignation of his deputy prime minister and finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, on December 16.
Avoid a motion of censure in the Parliament of Canada
Trudeau also reported that the Canadian Parliament will remain closed until March 24, which will prevent opposition parties from immediately filing the announced motion of censure against the Government.
The Canadian leader justified the controversial decision, which has been approved by the country’s governor general, Mary Simon, who acts as head of state on behalf of the English monarch, to extend Parliament due to the “paralysis” of the Lower House.
“That is why this morning I advised the governor-general that we need a new session of Parliament. He has authorized the petition and the Lower House will be extended until March 24,” he said.
Trudeau acknowledged that, once the sessions of Parliament are restarted, the opposition parties will present a motion of censure to overthrow the Government
The extension, which effectively ceases all legislative activities, is a controversial mechanism that was last used in 2020 when Trudeau was facing a serious scandal about government contracts with an NGO.
In December 2008, the then Prime Minister, the Conservative Stephen Harper, also extended Parliament to avoid a motion of censure that would have caused the fall of his government.
Opposition parties, which have a majority in Parliament, had announced that they would table a motion of censure against Trudeau as soon as Lower House sessions resumed.
Trudeau exalts those he considers his achievements
He also listed what he considered achievements of his nine-year government, such as poverty reduction and the fight against climate change, but also regretted not having been able to reform the Canadian electoral system to avoid the political “polarization” that is being experienced in the country.
Finally, he expressed his desire that his resignation would allow the next general election, scheduled for October of this year, not to be so divisive.
Opposition parties point out that resignation does not change anything
The deferred resignation announced by the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has not changed anything, said the leaders of the three main opposition parties in the country, who reaffirmed their intention to present a motion of censure as soon as possible.
Pierre Poilievre, leader of the main opposition group, the Conservative Party, issued a statement after Trudeau’s announcement in which he assured that “this does not change anything.”
“Canadians desperate to turn the page of this dark chapter in our history may be relieved that Justin Trudeau is finally leaving. But what has really changed?” said Poilievre, who according to the polls is destined to win the next general elections.
Polievre added that the reason why the Liberal Party has decided to replace its leader is because the Liberal deputies “feel guilty” for the policies that he considers have broken the country during Trudeau’s nine-year term.
International
Erin brings strong winds and storm surge despite weakening offshore
Hurricane Erin weakened to a Category 2 storm on Tuesday but continues to pose a threat to parts of the U.S. East Coast with potentially dangerous flooding, according to meteorologists.
Although the hurricane’s eye is expected to remain offshore, experts are concerned about Erin’s size, as strong winds extend hundreds of kilometers beyond the storm’s center.
In its 18:00 GMT bulletin, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) lifted tropical storm warnings for the Bahamasand Turks and Caicos Islands, but kept them in effect for parts of North Carolina.
Erin was located several hundred kilometers southeast of North Carolina and was moving northwestward.
“This means there is a risk of potentially life-threatening flooding of 60 to 120 centimeters above ground level,” said NHC Director Michael Brennan.
He also warned of the possibility of destructive waves, combined with storm surge, that could cause severe damage to beaches and coastal areas, making roads impassable.
International
Three U.S. Warships deploy near Venezuela to combat drug trafficking
Three U.S. naval vessels are moving toward the coasts of Venezuela, according to international media reports on Tuesday, after White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump is ready to combat and curb international drug trafficking.
Reports indicate that the ships will reach Venezuelan waters within the next 36 hours as part of a recent U.S. deployment aimed at countering international narcotics operations.
The announcement coincides with Leavitt’s statement that Trump is prepared to “use the full extent of his power” to halt drug flows into the United States. The naval deployment involves approximately 4,000 military personnel.
“The President has been clear and consistent. He is ready to use every element of U.S. power to prevent drugs from flooding our country and to bring those responsible to justice. The Maduro regime is not the legitimate government of Venezuela—it is a narco-terror cartel,” the spokesperson said during a press conference.
International
Cuban authorities free salvadoran convicted in 1997 hotel bombing
Salvadoran national Otto René Rodríguez Llerena was released after serving a 30-year prison sentence for his involvement in a terrorist attack at a hotel in Cuba in 1997, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.
During his trial, Rodríguez Llerena admitted to placing an explosive device at the Meliá Cohiba Hotel under the orders of anti-Castro exile leaders. He was arrested the following year when he returned to Havana with another load of explosives that failed to detonate.
“The Cuban government reiterates its commitment to combating terrorism, respecting human rights, and the need for the international community to hold accountable those who promote such acts,” the statement read.
He was released on August 15 and is the second Salvadoran to complete his sentence. In December of last year, another Salvadoran, Ernesto Cruz León, was released after planting bombs at tourist centers, one of which killed an Italian tourist identified as Fabio Di Celmo.
A third Salvadoran, Francisco Chávez Abarca, also received a 30-year sentence from Cuban courts in 2010 after being extradited from Venezuela through Interpol for actions against Cuba.
Rodríguez Llerena had requested conditional release in 2016, arguing that his actions had not caused any direct fatalities, but no further information was released about his situation until now.
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