End of a glamorous power couple on the political stage: Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (51) and his wife Sophie Grégoire Trudeau (48) have announced their separation after around 18 years of marriage.
“After important and difficult conversations, we have decided to separate,” the two said yesterday (local time) via Instagram. “As always, we remain a family with a deep love and respect for one another and for all that we have built and will continue to build together.” For the sake of their children in particular, the two asked that their privacy be respected.
In the spotlight of the world public
The Trudeaus were considered a model family, and the couple’s split comes as a surprise to many Canadians. When Justin Trudeau, who is a member of the Liberal Party, became prime minister of the North American country in 2015, the couple was catapulted into the spotlight of world politics in one fell swoop. At that time, Trudeau embodied hope in Canadian politics for many people like Kennedy or Obama once did in the USA – and was even celebrated as “Canada’s Kennedy”. He promised “sunny paths” and “positive politics”.
Sophie Grégoire Trudeau was always smartly dressed by his side. She gave up her job as a presenter on television and radio, campaigned among other things for social and health issues and is considered a popular First Lady of the second largest country in the world in terms of area.
Image seems disenchanted
The two had met as children, Sophie was a classmate of Justin Trudeau’s younger brother Michel. As adults, they met again in 2003 and fell in love. The wedding followed in 2005, then three children together – Xavier, born in 2007, Ella-Grace, born in 2009, and Hadrien, born in 2014.
Justin and Sophie Trudeau kept wishing each other happy birthdays or wedding anniversaries on social media and reaffirmed their love for each other and their children. In interviews, however, they also repeatedly spoke openly about problems and challenges in their marriage.
Recently, the joint appearances had become rarer. In May, for example, they were still there for the coronation of King Charles III. traveled to the UK. Justin Trudeau made no public appearances on his official program on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The prime minister’s reputation has suffered somewhat recently, and his image seems disenchanted. In 2021 he was only very narrowly re-elected. At the end of July, the prime minister reshuffled his cabinet more extensively than at any time since he took office in 2015 in view of the falling poll numbers of his liberal party.
Nevertheless, we planned a holiday together
The Trudeaus have signed a separation agreement, the prime minister’s office said in a statement. “They have worked to ensure that all legal and ethical steps regarding their decision to separate have been taken and will continue to do so.”
As before, the two wanted to raise their children in a “safe, loving and collaborative environment”. “Both parents will remain present in their children’s lives, and Canadians can expect to see the family together often.” For example, the family will go on vacation together next week.
Trudeau is the second Canadian Prime Minister to announce his separation from his wife while in office – and the first was also named Trudeau. Pierre Trudeau (1919-2000), Prime Minister of the country with an interruption from 1968 to 1984 and father of Justin Trudeau, announced the separation from Justin’s mother Margaret in 1977.
