UPDATED STORY:
OTTAWA - Paul Manly, the former MP who lost his British Columbia seat in the election, withdrew Wednesday from the race to be interim leader of the Greens.
His withdrawal from the contest, which will be decided by the party's federal council on Wednesday evening, makes Amita Kuttner, who stood against Paul in last year's leadership election, the new front-runner for the role.
If appointed, at 30 years old, Kuttner would be the youngest person, the first trans person and the first person of east Asian descent to lead a national political party.
Kuttner, a nonbinary astrophysicist from B.C., has been a vocal advocate of action to address flooding and climate change. Their mother was killed and their father severely injured in a mudslide in 2005 after their North Vancouver home was crushed.
Manly was backed by former leader Elizabeth May and former interim leader Jo-Ann Roberts, to take on the temporary role.
His withdrawal surprised senior Greens, prompting speculation that he may now run to take over from Annamie Paul and lead the Greens permanently.
The interim leader will be in the post for a maximum of six months, before a full-time leader can be elected to succeed Paul, who formally stepped down as Green leader earlier this month.
The party has been beset by infighting and saw its support plummet in the election, returning two MPs but losing a significant share of the popular vote.
Paul said leading the Greens was the worst period of her life and has handed in her party membership.
EARLIER STORY:
OTTAWA - The Greens will tonight choose an interim leader to take the helm of their troubled party, following the resignation of Annamie Paul.
Paul Manly, the former MP who lost his British Columbia seat in the election, is the favourite to take on the challenge.
He is being backed by former leader Elizabeth May and former interim leader Jo-Ann Roberts, who was urged to take on the job again.
The party's federal council will meet tonight to consider a clutch of applications they have received for the stand-in leadership position.
Dr. Amita Kuttner, who stood against Paul in last year's leadership election, confirmed she has applied for the role.
Kuttner, a nonbinary astrophysicist from B.C., has been a vocal advocate of action to address flooding and climate change.
Her mother was killed and her father severely injured in a mudslide in 2005 after their North Vancouver home was crushed.
The interim leader will be in post for a maximum of six months, before a full-time leader can be elected to succeed Paul, who formally stepped down as Green leader earlier this month.
The party has been beset by infighting and saw its support plummet in the election, returning two MPs but losing a significant share of the popular vote.
Paul said leading the Greens was the worst period of her life and has handed in her party membership.
