Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney announced on Thursday that he was running to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the ruling Liberal Party, saying he wanted to focus on the struggling economy.

The former Bank of England and Bank of Canada governor says he is considering running for leader of Canada’s Liberal Party and prime minister.

Mark Carney, the former governor of Canada's central bank, on Thursday launched his bid to succeed Justin Trudeau as Liberal Party leader and prime minister, immediately becoming a frontrunner in the race.

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney announced a run for Liberal leader and prime minister, promising a centrist focus on the economy.

Chrystia Freeland, the former deputy prime minister, sought to distance herself from Mr. Trudeau in a public letter criticizing him for “costly political gimmicks.”

Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, said he’s considering entering the race to replace Justin Trudeau as Canada’s prime minister.Most Read from BloombergNYC’s Subway Violence Deters Drive to Bring Workers Back to OfficeCan American Drivers Learn to Love Roundabouts?

Mark Carney has run two central banks and championed the green transition. Now he wants to lead Canada’s Liberal Party.

Mr Carney, who was also governor of the Bank of England, is running as an outsider with considerable financial experience. Read more at straitstimes.com.

If successful, the former Bank of England governor would become Canada's interim prime minister ahead of the next general election

Carney disclosed his intentions to a crowd in Edmonton, Alberta, the western Canadian city where he spent the bulk of his youth, promising an economic agenda focused on lifting the country from a period of stagnant growth.

The former governor of the Canadian and British central banks announced he was running to become head of the Liberal Party and prime minister.