Outgoing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal Party said late on Thursday it will choose a new leader on March 9 ahead of the 2025 elections for which polls show the party in a very weak position.

Justin Trudeau, who has led the country for nearly a decade, is giving up leadership of the Liberal party. He said he would remain in both roles until his replacement had been chosen through a party election.

Liberals will choose their next leader — and Canada’s next prime minister — by March 9, sources have told Radio-Canada.

In addition, voting will be restricted to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. In the 2013 race, which saw Justin Trudeau elected party leader, even temporary residents were allowed to vote

The federal Liberals will announce a new leader on March 9, the party announced late Thursday, giving potential candidates just two weeks to decide to run and potential voters less than three weeks to join the party in order to vote.