With his Caucus colleagues standing behind him, Premier Dennis King held a news conference Thursday afternoon to announce that he is stepping down as Premier and Leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of PEI, effective noon Friday.
King won the PEI Progressive Conservative Party Leadership in February of 2019. That April, King’s PCs won a minority government in a provincial election. A subsequent win in a by-election gave the Progressive Conservatives a majority government. In 2023, King’s PCs won with a majority.
King says he struggled with the decision, but it comes after a lengthy discussion with his family over the Christmas holiday.
In looking back over the past 6 years, King points to a global pandemic, two hurricanes, cyber-attacks, trade wars, and much more. He says that through it all, the goodness of Islanders has always shone through because that’s what Islanders do best – in times of darkness, Islanders show Canadians and the entire world that ‘Island goodness’ that they are known for.
An interim Leader and Premier will be chosen by the Caucus and Provincial Executive and an announcement on that is expected in the coming hours.
As or reaction,
Hal Perry, the Official Opposition Leader and Interim Leader of the PEI Liberal Party, issued a statement in response. Perry says the decision to enter politics—and the decision to exit—is a deeply personal one, and he wishes the Premier well in his future endeavors and whatever may be next for him and his family. Perry says the unexpected change in leadership comes at a critical moment for the province. He sys Islanders are facing a period of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear—particularly due to the looming threat of American tariffs and their potential impact on our economy.
