This Week in Politics
Trudeau Facing Troubles in Canada
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has faced a downward trend in polling for years. His centre-left Liberal Party is now threatened by the third largest party, and Trudeau government coalition partner, the left-wing New Democratic Party. The Conservative Party enjoys a strong lead in the polls, helped by the weak approval rating of the prime minister. In this setting, Trudeau's long-term ally and vital Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned, mere hours ahead of an annual fiscal report to parliament. The move reportedly came as a surprise to the Prime Minister's Office, which felt "blindsided" by Freeland's team. In her resignation letter, Freeland cited economic discrepancies, disagreements, and the Trudeau government asking to reshuffle her in the cabinet.
"For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada," former Finance Minister Freeland in her resignation letter.
Freeland raised concerns over the incoming American administration and how Canada should handle the changing circumstances, wanting to respond to President-elect Trump's "aggressive economic nationalism" including the threat of a 25% tariff on Canadian exports to the states.
"Our country today faces a grave challenge. The incoming administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism, including a threat of 25 per cent tariffs. We need to take that threat extremely seriously. That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war. That means eschewing costly political gimmicks, which we can ill afford and which make Canadians doubt that we recognize the gravity of the moment," the former finance minister writes.
Following her resignation opposition leader and Conservative Party head Pierre Poilievre called on the prime minister to resign. Jagmeet Singh of the NDP joined said call alongside the leader of the Bloc Québécois, an independence of Quebec. Despite being a coalition partner the NDP has increasingly distanced itself from the government, with the Conservatives calling on the party to act by voting for a motion of no confidence.
"Everything is spiralling out of control. We simply cannot go on like this," Pierre Poilievre leader of opposition and the Conservative Party said.
In total Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has faced 5 resignations this year, his lowered approval ratings and party's performance in the polls stand in stark contrast to his early days. Whether Canada still wants a Liberal government is an open question, yet as Freeland writes in her resignation letter, "Inevitably, our time in government will come to an end."
South Korean President Impeached
In a tumultuous time for South Korean politics, sparked by President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of martial law, the National Assembly has voted to impeach the sitting president. Members of the president's political group, the People Power Party, voted against him, reflecting the bipartisan distaste for actions. President Yoon Suk Yeol has long faced a strenuous relationship with the opposition-controlled National Assembly, namely failing to pass his agenda. The impeachment process now moves to the Constitutional Court, to which the incumbent president has appointed a plurality of judges, which has 6 months to decide a verdict. The president faces potential charges of insurrection or reinstatement, depending on the court's decision.
German Vote of No Confidence
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has lost the confidence of the Bundestag following the collapse of his coalition government. His centre-left SPD found itself increasingly at loggerheads with the liberal FDP, culminating in the dissolution of an alliance that has governed Germany since 2021. Mr Scholz was expected to lose the vote. Yet, securing a mere 203 votes, his party has 206, nowhere near the needed 367 suggests Chancellor Scholz has a steep confidence hill to climb. Rebuilding bridges with the electorate, which widely disapproves of Mr Scholz's tenure, is vital for the SPD which faces a difficult situation in the polls, behind the far-right AfD, over 10% behind the centre-right CDU/CSU. The FDP is threatened by complete collapse, polling below the 5% threshold to even enter parliament alongside the left-wing Die Linke. Moreover, a breakaway former Die Linke group, the BSW, enjoys enough support, in polling, to gain representation. Interestingly, the Greens incur the most monotone support, resting close to the 15% won in 2021, though below. What happens on Election Day will be defined by the looming campaign, to the setting of a government collapse and lacking confidence in the sitting chancellor, all the while Europe stands to the test of mounting challenges. No matter who wins on Election Day it will impact the path of Germany and thereby also Europe.
