There's no end to troubles for embattled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with MPs from his own party now seeking a secret vote on his future.
According to a report in Canada-based newspaper The Globe and Mail, six more Liberal MPs have joined a growing list of leaders demanding a vote on the prime minister’s future as the leader.
The report said that ministers in the Trudeau government are trying hard to quell the infighting in the party by shutting down the demand.
However, the MPs insist that the secret vote is important in order to "move forward and clear the air" amid growing uncertainty about Trudeau's effectiveness as a leader.
Alberta MP George Chahal said that it was the right thing for the Liberals to do as a democratic institution, the report said.
Yukon MP Brendan Hanley echoed the view, saying that a vote on Trudeau will be the “best pathway” for the Liberal MPs to close the question of on his leadership.
“We need to have a secret ballot and move on."
Other MPs like Rob Oliphant, Helena Jaczek, Yvan Baker, Wayne Long, René Arseneault, Sean Casey, Sameer Zuberi and Sophie Chatel are also demanding a vote.
The fresh push comes close on the heels of a similar demand by several Liberal MPs earlier this month.
Casey had said "people have had enough" and want Trudeau to go", underlining a "high level of anxiety" in the Liberal caucus over the prime minister's leadership.
The cabinet ministers are arguing that holding such a vote on Trudeau's leadership would violate party rules, as the choice of leader is made by registered Liberals, not MPs.
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Health minister Mark Holland dismissed the MPs calling for a secret vote, saying they don’t get to "dictate to the caucus or the party."
He added that if they want to change the process, they could address it at the convention.
Natural resources minister Jonathan Wilkinson said the leadership issue is "pretty much settled," with employment minister Randy Boissonnault affirming, "We’re moving on."
The MPs from the anti-Trudeau camp have rejected this view, saying that they want the Canadian PM to address the request for a secret vote at Wednesday’s caucus meeting, the report said.
Over the last few weeks, Trudeau has been facing mounting pressure from his own MPs.
The infighting hit the ceiling at a recent caucus meeting where 24 Liberal MPs signed a letter urging Trudeau to step down.
Notably, Casey said that Trudeau will not survive a secret vote if it does take place.
This is not the first time that MPs have called for Trudeau's resignation.
Earlier in June, New Brunswick MP Wayne Long had also sought his resignation, while Newfoundland and Labrador MP Ken McDonald had demanded the Canadian Prime Minister face a leadership review, the Toronto Sun newspaper reported.
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