Out of pressure and disagreement? Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and his wife are separated... Separation | Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau

On August 2nd local time, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie Gregor Trudeau announced through social media that they had officially separated. This seems to mean that this couple's 18 year long marriage is coming to an end, which is surprising and regrettable.

Previously, the seemingly exemplary image of the couple was a popular topic in public opinion and became a bonus in Trudeau's career as Prime Minister. At a time of uncertainty in Trudeau's political career, this unusual decision has attracted attention.

It's heartbreaking

On that day, Trudeau and Sophie respectively expressed on social media that after "multiple meaningful and difficult conversations," they finally made the decision to separate.

However, the two will still treat each other as family, "for everything we have established and will continue to establish.".

Finally, the two also expressed their hope that public opinion would respect the privacy of this family for the sake of their children.

The Canadian Prime Minister's Office has confirmed that Trudeau and Sophie have signed a legal separation agreement, but the two will still be committed to providing a healthy growth environment for their children.

"Canadians can look forward to seeing this family together frequently," said the Canadian Prime Minister's office, as the family will be on vacation together next week.

According to informed officials, Trudeau and the children will continue to live in the Lido Cottage located in the capital Ottawa. Although the Prime Minister's residence is located at 24 Sussex Street in Ottawa, Trudeau has been living in the Lido Cottage for eight years since taking office.

Sophie has moved to another residence in Ottawa, but plans to spend some time with her children in the Lido Cottage in the future.

This news is surprising and regrettable. In the eight years since Trudeau became Prime Minister, the two have always shown the image of a model husband and wife, becoming a popular story in domestic and foreign public opinion.

Experience ups and downs

It is reported that Trudeau and Sophie have a strong connection. Sophie was once a classmate of Trudeau's brother, Michelle. In 2002, the two met again in Montreal and got married in 2005, having two sons and a daughter.

Afterwards, Trudeau began to enter politics and inherited the charm of his father, legendary figure and former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau.

In 2015, at the age of only 43, Trudeau led the Liberal Party to win the election and became prime minister as a rising star in politics. Sophie, on the other hand, is a celebrity in the media industry, and this glamorous couple quickly attracted public attention both domestically and internationally, setting off a celebrity effect.

Afterwards, Trudeau led the Liberal Party to win two general elections in 2019 and 2021. As the Prime Minister's wife, Sophie often accompanies Trudeau to attend public events.

In 2020, Trudeau described Sophie as "my rock, my partner, and my best friend" on her wedding anniversary.

In March of this year, the two met with visiting US President Biden in Canada together. Two months later, the two went to London together to attend the coronation ceremony of King Charles III of England.

The seemingly fulfilling family life endowed Trudeau with a responsible leadership image and became a bonus in his career as prime minister. However, behind the surface of the scenery seems an unbearable burden. Both of them have talked about the difficulties and challenges in marriage, especially under the spotlight.

Trudeau wrote in his autobiography "Commonalities" published in 2014, "Our marriage was not perfect, we went through difficult ups and downs."

For Sophie, being the Prime Minister's wife is not easy. It is reported that unlike the first ladies of countries such as the United States, the spouse of the Canadian Prime Minister does not have an official title, official duties, or a team of assistants. Sophie once said that she had to handle a large number of letters and event invitations in the corner of the dining table.

In 2016, Sophie, as the Prime Minister's wife, was interviewed by Canadian media and expressed her need for help, which caused considerable controversy.

"I can't go anywhere I want. I have three children and my husband is the Prime Minister. I need help. I need a team to help me serve the people."

This statement quickly became the talk of the opposition party, accused of being too delicate and detached from reality. Not long ago, there were reports that Canadian taxpayers had to pay for the nanny services of this couple, which sparked dissatisfaction.

Last year, Sophie posted on her wedding anniversary stating that she and Trudeau "have experienced sunny days, storms, and uncertainties, and all of this is not yet over... A long-term relationship is challenging in many ways, requiring continuous management, adaptability, compromise, sacrifice, dedication, patience, effort, and so on."

It is reported that Trudeau is the second Prime Minister in Canada to announce his separation from his wife during his tenure, with the previous being his father. In 1977, Pierre and his wife, Marguerite, the mother of Trudeau, separated after years of working together. In the end, the two divorced in 1984, the last year of Pierre's tenure as Prime Minister.

In Canadian history, Margaret was also a prominent Prime Minister's wife. Similar to Sophie, Margaret once described 24 Sussex Street as a "prison.".

Trudeau once wrote in "Commonalities" that his parents' breakup "shaped" him. Despite his parents making every effort to minimize pain and loss, he still feels a decrease in self-worth.

Trudeau also wrote that he knew from a young age how tricky politics can be for families and interpersonal relationships.

An ultimatum?

The public opinion has noticed a significant decrease in the number of public appearances of Sophie and Trudeau recently. At the time of their separation, Trudeau recently underwent a major cabinet reshuffle, seemingly aimed at preparing for the next general election.

The next general election in Canada is expected to be held before October 2025. At present, Trudeau's situation seems somewhat difficult.

Firstly, after eight years in power, Trudeau is no longer a fresh face, and he is also a leader of the G7 who has been in power for a long time.

Secondly, although the Liberal Party won the general elections in 2019 and 2021, they were unable to secure more than half of the seats in the House of Representatives, thus forming a minority government twice. When pushing the government agenda, they need to seek the support of other political parties.

In addition, over the past eight years, Trudeau's approval rating has been somewhat affected by factors such as high inflation and voter fatigue. Recent polls show that the support rate of the Liberal Party lags behind that of the opposition party.

According to reports, Nelson Wiseman, a political science professor at the University of Toronto, previously believed that Trudeau would seriously consider stepping down at some point next year or early 2025.

But now, "I think he might want to stay on the political stage more," Wiseman said. Part of the reason for Trudeau's separation from Sophie may be that Sophie issued an ultimatum demanding that Trudeau not participate in the next election.

At the same time, some comments suggest that separating from his wife is one of the biggest personal crises Trudeau has faced in his eight years of rule, especially considering his frequent emphasis on the importance of the family.

However, Wiseman believes that the separation of Trudeau and Sophie will not have a political impact.

"Canadian voters don't care about these things. Although voters used to care about them, culture and times have changed."

Wiseman also said that when Pierre and Margaret separated, it did not have a significant impact on Pierre's remaining term.