Will Justin Trudeau’s divorce affect his career?

Canada’s Liberal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, have jointly announced on their Instagram accounts that they are separating after 18 years of marriage:

Hi everyone, Sophie and I would like to share the fact that after many meaningful and difficult conversations, we have made the decision to separate. As always, we remain a close family with deep love and respect for each other and for everything we have built and will continue to build. For the well-being of our children, we ask that you respect our and their privacy. Thank you.

The Prime Minister’s Office released a statement that Trudeau and Grégoire Trudeau had ‘signed a legal separation agreement’ and ‘worked to ensure that all legal and ethical steps with regards to their decision to separate have been taken, and will continue to do so moving forward’.

Most Canadians were understandably reserved in their feelings about this unfortunate announcement. No matter what they think about Trudeau as a prime minister and world leader, this was a private family matter.