Trudeau, under heavy pressure from Liberal legislators to quit amid polls showing the party will be crushed at the next election, said at a news conference that parliament would be suspended until March 24.

That means an election is unlikely to be held before May and Trudeau will still be prime minister when U.S. President-elect Donald Trump - who has threatened tariffs that would cripple Canada s economy - takes office on Jan. 20.

"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.

Trudeau, 53, took office in November 2015 and won reelection twice, becoming one of Canada s longest-serving prime ministers.