CANADA: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie announced their separation on Wednesday, which came as a surprise and seemed to signal the end of their 18-year prominent marriage.
Over the years, the couple has openly discussed the challenges in their relationship and has been seen together less frequently in public.
Trudeau, 51, and Sophie Gregoire Trudeau, 48, tied the knot in May 2005 and have three children, aged 15, 14, and nine. On their 2020 anniversary, he affectionately referred to her as “my rock, my partner, and my best friend.”
Trudeau faces painful historical parallels, reminiscent of his father’s separation from his wife, Margaret, in 1977 during his tenure as Prime Minister.
This development marks one of Trudeau’s significant personal crises since taking office in 2015, given his emphasis on family life.
The couple’s announcement came just a week after Trudeau’s cabinet shuffle, aimed at boosting his Liberal Party’s fortunes as they currently trail in the polls. Despite the difficulties, Trudeau remains determined to lead the Liberals into the next election, which is scheduled to take place by October 2025.
“Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate,” Trudeau wrote on Instagram, while Gregoire Trudeau posted a nearly identical message on her own account.
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. states that Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, a close ally of Trudeau, will brief members of the cabinet late on Wednesday.
According to the CBC, Trudeau is expected to address the separation publicly this week.
Trudeau’s office stated that he and Gregoire Trudeau have signed a legal agreement and will prioritise raising their children. The family will also vacation together next week.
Gregoire Trudeau will move into separate accommodations in Ottawa but will frequently visit the children at Rideau Cottage, the prime minister’s official residence, to provide them with a normal upbringing, as per a reliable source.
Gregoire Trudeau, a passionate advocate for gender equality and a commerce graduate, worked as a reporter when she met Trudeau in 2003, and they got married two years later.
Trudeau, who became prime minister in late 2015 at the age of 43, alongside his stylish wife, captured the attention of the world media.
In October 2015, the New York Post referred to her as “the hottest first lady in the world.”
Vogue magazine featured a glowing profile of the couple in its January 2016 issue, showcasing affectionate photos of them together. A long article in the magazine about Trudeau stated he “shocks some with his public displays of affection towards his wife”.
In the early years after Trudeau assumed office, he and Sophie were frequently seen together at social functions and during foreign trips. During a visit to India in February 2018, they attracted attention by dressing in colourful costumes, which received mixed reactions back home.
Trudeau had acknowledged even before becoming prime minister that their marriage faced challenges. In his 2014 autobiography, Common Ground, he mentioned that “our marriage isn’t perfect, and we have had difficult ups and downs.”
In recent years, Gregoire Trudeau has reduced her public appearances with her husband, indicating signs of strain in their relationship.
On their wedding anniversary last year, she expressed on social media, “We have navigated through sunny days, heavy storms, and everything in between, and it ain’t over.”
She continued, stating that “long-term relationships are challenging in so many ways.”
The two of them did make the trip to London in May for King Charles’ coronation, and they were present when Vice President Joe Biden paid a visit in late March.
As of Monday, Trudeau was still seen wearing his wedding ring.
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