Potential Issues of Time Constraints and Rule Confusion in a Liberal Leadership Race

Calls have intensified for Justin Trudeau to resign as head of the party he almost single-handedly pulled back from the brink after a decimating electoral defeat in 2011.

Still, Trudeau has been steadfast in his intention to lead the party into the next election.

However, despite the calls from former elected Liberals, party faithful, and strategists for the Prime Minister to step aside, fearing he may drag the party down with his personal polling numbers, many also acknowledge that a Liberal leadership race would be a risky and messy affair.

The party has not selected a new leader since 2013, when the Liberals changed the rules to give ordinary citizens a bigger say in who would take the reins of the party as part of the board’s “road map to renewal” plan to rebuild the party.

Trudeau’s leadership ushered in a new era of Liberal unity, but Conservative strategist Ginny Roth believes the party has also been remade in his image, raising concerns about the party’s identity now that his popularity has waned.

There are worries about the potential influence of special interest groups in the next leadership race due to changes in the party’s rules that aimed to make it easier for people to vote in the leader selection process.

Despite concerns about the timing and potential challenges of a leadership race, discussions are underway about holding a party convention next spring, which may be too late to change the rules if a snap leadership race is called.

Leadership races can last several months, and the timeline to find a new leader before the next election may be tight, but it is not considered insurmountable by some Liberals.

While some past leaders have faced challenges after quick leadership transitions, others have experienced a surge of momentum that carried them through a general election successfully.

Some Liberals believe the next leader may be a placeholder given the party’s current chances of winning the next election, with potential candidates quietly organizing for a possible leadership run.

The most important thing, according to some strategists, is for the Liberals to avoid a defeatist mentality and continue to push forward with determination.