Scandal May End the Political life of Justin Trudeau; the Reason is Libya!

A corruption scandal involving a Canadian construction company with some Libyan officials, worked under the rule of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, led to a series of resignations.

The wave of resignations in the cabinet of Justin Trudeau continues against the backdrop of a corruption scandal involving a Canadian construction company with some Libyan officials, worked under the rule of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, in exchange for concessions for investment projects in Libya.

After the resignation of Justice Minister Judy Wilson, who testified before the House of Commons that she was under pressure from the Trudeau government to avoid SNC-lAVALIN's conviction, Treasury Secretary Jean-Villepoulette submitted her resignation, followed by the resignation of political adviser Justin Trudeau, Gerald Potts.

The consequences of the scandal were reflected in the decline in popularity of the Canadian prime minister, according to opinion polls showed by the Canadian Press Agency on February 21.

A scandal that may threaten the political future of Trudeau.

Parties of the case

Canadian Justice Minister Judy Wilson was the one triggered the case. The minister stated that in 2018 she had been subjected to "implicit pressure" from Trudeau and officials in his Government. Pressures that, according to the text of her testimony, she considered "inappropriate" but not "criminal or illegal".

In a 2015 investigation, the Royal Canadian Police accused Lavalin of paying $ 47.7 million in bribes to the Libyan government in the Qadhafi regime and, in other investment projects involving the Great River Industrial Project, bluffed it by charging $ 130 million.

This prompted the CEO of Lavalin to publicly profess that "Although our company suffered significant financial losses, we were always ready to find a reasonable and just solution that would enhance accountability while allowing us to continue to work and protect the livelihood of our more than 40,000 employees as well as our customers and investors. And other stakeholders." A statement that some considered, at the time, an implicit recognition of responsibility.

Justin Trudeau: Political future at stake

Trudeau did not deny that he had discussed Lavalin's case with members of his government, nevertheless, he said he had not directed any of them to intervene. Wilson testified that she had met with the prime minister who expressed fears that many Canadians could lose their jobs because of the case. "The prime minister told her he was not trying to interfere in her work, but he wanted to find a solution to this issue," she said.

A wave of resignations of prominent figures in the Canadian government, which may be hampered by further resignations in the future, threatens Trudeau's political life, especially on the threshold of an election battle in October, where he could not continue to implement liberal policies.

This comes against a decline in his popularity and the opposition's attack on him as we as call of some members in the House of Commons to submit his resignation.

The Libyan government: silence continues

No statement has yet been issued by the Libyan government of national accord on this case. The GNA faces a series of political, security and economic challenges, the latest of which is the scandal of frozen funds in Belgium, whose profits have been released and sent to unknown parties in Libya, according to the 2018 Security Council report.

"The case is linked to the former regime and a lot of information is still unknown, and the House of Representatives is busy with its internal affairs," Libyan MP Abu Bakr Baira said. He continues "The issue will be investigated when the sovereign institutions are unified and a government is formed."