A decade ago, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau emerged on the international political scene, triumphant after scoring his first term in power.
Almost immediately, he garnered global appeal with his boyish charm, inclusive vision, and the backing of a political dynasty.
Now, he's announced his resignation.
Here's what happened.
Why is Justin Trudeau resigning?
In many ways, Mr Trudeau's popularity faded as quickly as it spread.
By 2021, his party had lost several seats in parliament due to a series of controversies.
The loss required him to form minority governments with Canada's left-wing New Democratic Party.
But recently, his popularity reached an all-time low, backed by the departure of several key allies and cost-of-living pressures.
In December, Mr Trudeau's deputy prime minister and finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, abruptly resigned in the wake of a spat over the incoming Trump administration.
President-elect Donald Trump said he plans to impose sweeping 25-per cent tariffs on all Canadian products.
Ms Freeland and Mr Trudeau reportedly fell out over disagreements on how to handle the threat.
Notably, in her resignation, Ms Freeland called a recently-announced tax holiday and a plan to send $CA250 ($278) cheques to millions of Canadians a "costly political gimmick" Canada could "ill afford".
"Our country is facing a grave challenge," Ms Freeland wrote.
"That means keeping our fiscal powder dry today, so we have the reserves we may need for a coming tariff war."
Shortly before Ms Freeland announced her decision, Housing Minister Sean Fraser also quit.
An attempt to rejig his cabinet then spurred New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh to publicly call for Mr Trudeau's resignation.
"The Trudeau Liberals said a lot of the right things," he wrote in an open letter.
"Then they let people down again and again.
"Justin Trudeau failed in his biggest job as prime minister: to work for the people."
How did Trudeau come to power?
Mr Trudeau gained leadership of the Liberals at a dire time for the party.
In 2013, the party had been out of power for more than seven years and reduced to third place in the House of Commons for the first time.
The son of former Liberal prime minister Pierre Trudeau, Mr Trudeau quickly materialised as a young and charismatic politician.
His leadership and message of hope — not unlike that of Barack Obama's — secured his victory in 2015.
Mr Trudeau honed a brand focused on feminism, environmentalism and Indigenous advocacy.
Asked about the gender equity in his cabinet, his pointed answer became the rallying cry of supporters globally.
"Because it's 2015," he responded to the journalist.
Mr Trudeau's political honeymoon did not last long.
That same gender equity would later be thrown off-balance when two of his cabinet ministers were caught up in a 2019 corruption trial.
What other controversies has Trudeau faced?
In 2016, Canada's ethics commissioner ruled Mr Trudeau had broken conflict-of-interest rules by accepting a vacation, gifts and flights from the Aga Khan.
It became the first time a Canadian prime minister had been found to have committed such a transgression.
Shortly after the 2019 election campaign began, photos also emerged of Mr Trudeau wearing blackface.
For Mr Trudeau, who had bolstered himself as a champion of multiculturalism, the photos were especially incriminating.
He later apologised and said his privilege gave him a "massive blind spot".
"Darkening your face, regardless of the context or the circumstances, is always unacceptable because of the racist history of blackface," he said.
"I should have understood that then, and I never should have done it."
Outside of domestic tensions, Mr Trudeau has been at the centre of a strained relationship with India due to Canada's ongoing investigation into India's role in the alleged assassination of a Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Mr Trudeau said there were credible allegations the Indian government had links to the assassination of Mr Nijjar in Canada.
In response, India has condemned Mr Trudeau for being soft on supporters of the Khalistan movement, which it says are extremists.
In August 2023, Mr Trudeau also announced he would separate from his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau after 18 years of marriage.
What happens now?
Mr Trudeau says he intends to resign as soon as his party chooses a new leader.
He also announced parliament would be suspended until March 24.
That means an election is unlikely before May, so Mr Trudeau will remain in charge — at least initially — of dealing with the threat of crippling tariffs once Donald Trump takes office in the US this month.
The next election must be held by late October, with polls indicating that voters are angry over high prices and a shortage of affordable housing and likely will elect the Conservatives, regardless of who is leading the Liberal party.
ABC/Reuters
