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.

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“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.

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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.

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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.

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International

Trump Floats “Friendly Takeover” of Cuba Amid Rising Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration is considering what he described as a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, as Washington continues to increase pressure on the island’s communist government.

“The Cuban government is talking to us and they have very serious problems, as you know. They have no money, they have nothing at this moment, but they are talking to us and maybe we will see a friendly takeover of Cuba,” Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for a trip to Texas.

Earlier in the week, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba needed a “radical change,” shortly after Washington eased restrictions on oil exports to the island for what officials described as “humanitarian reasons,” amid a deep economic crisis.

The United States has imposed an energy blockade on Cuba since January, citing what it calls an “extraordinary threat” posed by the communist-run island, located roughly 150 kilometers (90 miles) off the coast of Florida, to U.S. national security.

International

Argentina’s Senate Reviews Milei-Backed Labor Overhaul

Argentina’s Senate on Friday began reviewing the Labor Modernization Law promoted by the administration of President Javier Milei, a proposal that would significantly reshape labor rules across the country.

The upper chamber opened its final discussion of the contentious initiative, which revises the method used to calculate severance payments — lowering the amounts owed in dismissal cases — and introduces an “hour bank” mechanism that allows overtime to be offset with paid leave rather than extra wages.

The legislation also broadens the classification of essential services, a change that would place new limits on the right to strike in designated sectors.

The bill was initially approved by the Senate on February 11 and then moved to the Chamber of Deputies, where lawmakers passed it with amendments. It has now returned to the Senate for definitive approval.

Outside the Congress building in Buenos Aires, workers, trade unions and left-wing organizations staged demonstrations beginning at midday. The gathering later thinned out amid reports of disturbances and a strong police presence. Security forces had secured the area surrounding the legislature since early morning hours.

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Union leaders contend that the reform weakens labor protections, while many business representatives back the measure but stress that sustainable formal employment will require economic expansion, improved credit conditions, greater investment and a more dynamic domestic market.

International

Federal Judge Blocks Trump Policy Allowing Deportations to Third Countries

A federal judge ruled on Wednesday that the policy of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration allowing immigration authorities to deport foreign nationals to third countries without prior notice or the opportunity to object is unlawful. The decision marks another legal setback for the administration on immigration matters.

Judge Brian Murphy of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts struck down the regulation issued last year, which stated that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was not required to notify migrants if they were to be sent to countries other than the one listed in their removal order, provided that receiving nations offered assurances they would not face persecution or torture.

Murphy ordered the measure vacated but granted a 15-day delay before the ruling takes effect, giving the Trump administration time to file an appeal.

In his decision, the judge concluded that the policy violates federal immigration law and migrants’ due process rights. He also questioned the lack of transparency surrounding the alleged assurances provided by receiving countries, stating that “no one really knows anything about these supposed ‘assurances.’” He added, “It is not right, and it is not lawful.”

The ruling follows several legal disputes involving deportations to third countries. Last year, the executive branch deported more than 200 Salvadorans to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, invoking an old wartime law. The White House also held talks with Costa Rica, Panama, and Rwanda about receiving migrants who are not citizens of those countries.

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In May, the same judge determined that the government violated a court order when it attempted to remove a group of immigrants with criminal records to South Sudan without prior notice or an opportunity to raise claims of fear of persecution.

Although President Donald Trump took the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which temporarily allowed the deportations to resume while a final decision was pending, the White House is expected to again appeal to higher courts to overturn this latest judicial ruling.