Trudeau less likely to remain leader since Freeland’s departure, says Gerald Butts

Article content

A former chief adviser and close friend of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says he doesn’t think Trudeau will remain as Liberal leader in the next election.

Article content

Gerald Butts writes in a Substack newsletter today that Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland’s recent resignation from cabinet dealt Trudeau a devastating blow that loosened his already tenuous grip on the party.

Article content

He says Trudeau was “unlikely” to lead the party in the next campaign before Freeland’s resounding departure and is “now much less likely to do so.”

Butts says that also means the next election will likely be sooner rather than later next year and will be even more likely to result in a majority Conservative government.

Just a week ago, Butts joined the Liberal party’s Christmas conference in Ottawa alongside Trudeau’s longtime chief of staff and close confidant, Katie Telford.

Butts says if Trudeau resigns, the party should hold a leadership race rather than appointing Freeland or someone else as party leader.

Our website is the place for breaking news, exclusive scoops, long reads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.

Share this article on your social network