Liberals Face Thin Leadership Field as Key Figures Opt Out

The race to succeed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the Liberal Party is shaping up to be a narrow contest as high-profile Liberals continue to step aside.

Former British Columbia Premier Christy Clark and Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne both announced yesterday that they will not enter the race. Their decisions follow similar announcements from Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, further sapping the pool of potential contenders.

Speculation remains focused on two prominent figures vying to fill Trudeau’s shoes. Former Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland is widely expected to announce her candidacy in the coming days. Meanwhile, former Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney hinted at his interest during a Monday appearance on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Trudeau announced his intention to step down once a new leader is chosen. The party will select its new leader on March 9. While the field remains open, with major names opting out, the Liberals could face a leadership race with fewer contestants than initially anticipated.

The party’s search for new leadership comes as it looks to win back voters and stop its decline in the polls ahead of what many expect will be an early spring election.