What options does Trudeau have as Canadian PM faces calls to resign?

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faces growing pressure to step down as leader of his Liberal Party after the shock resignation of one of his longtime political allies earlier this week.

Chrystia Freeland, the country’s finance minister and deputy prime minister, said on Monday that she was resigning amid disagreements with Trudeau about how to handle US President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to impose steep tariffs on Canada.

The decision came amid months of questions over Trudeau’s leadership, as the prime minister has seen his popularity plummet in recent years amid increased costs of living and a housing crisis, among other issues.

Trump’s plan to impose 25-percent tariffs on Canada, announced in late November, spurred new criticism of Trudeau, with conservative lawmakers urging him to take action to counter the threat to the Canadian economy.

Amid the renewed pressure this week following Freeland’s resignation, Canadian media outlets have reported that Trudeau is considering his options.

Here’s a look at some of the potential ways forward.

Trudeau, who has served as Canada’s prime minister since 2015, could ultimately choose to step down as Liberal leader.

That would force the party to choose an interim leader to take his place while they organise a leadership convention to pick a permanent replacement.

It isn’t clear who the most likely candidate would be for any interim role.