Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at a change in leadership for Canada, North Korean missile tests amid South Korea’s political chaos, and the rise of the far right in Austria.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he will step down as the leader of the long-ruling Liberal Party, ending his roughly decadelong reign at the helm of the party and the nation.

Welcome back to World Brief, where we’re looking at a change in leadership for Canada, North Korean missile tests amid South Korea’s political chaos, and the rise of the far right in Austria.

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Monday that he will step down as the leader of the long-ruling Liberal Party, ending his roughly decadelong reign at the helm of the party and the nation.

“This country deserves a real choice in the next election, and it has become clear to me that if I’m having to fight internal battles, I cannot be the best option in that election,” Trudeau said in front of his official residence in Ottawa.

Trudeau will also resign as prime minister once Liberal lawmakers select a new party leader to take on both roles. The succession battle could take weeks to determine, if not longer. Trudeau asked on Monday for Parliament to be suspended until March 26, after which the Liberal Party will likely face a vote of confidence. Under Canadian law, general elections need to occur by late October 2025.

“If Canada’s elections were held today, Trudeau would almost certainly cede power to Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre,” FP’s Allison Meakem wrote last week. According to CBC News polling released on Monday, the Conservatives hold a 24-point lead over the Liberal Party, with Poilievre raking in 44.2 percent versus Trudeau’s 20.1 percent. This gives the Conservative Party a 98 percent probability of winning a parliamentary majority.

The Liberal Party holds a minority of seats in Parliament and has had its influence tested several times. In September, the New Democratic Party

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