Trudeau's departure would leave the party without a permanent head at a time when polls show the Liberals will "badly lose" to the official opposition Conservatives in an election that must be held by late October.

Trudeau, 53, took office in November 2015 with a message of hope and "sunny ways" and won reelection twice, becoming one of Canada's longest-serving prime ministers. However, his popularity has declined in recent years due to issues such as the soaring cost of food and housing, as well as surging immigration.