Time To Bow Out

WHAT WAS A MAN TO DO? BRIAN MULRONEY, 53, had twice led his Progressive Conservative Party to victory, introduced a history-making free-trade pact with the U.S., and imposed an economically sound 7% value-added sales tax. But Canada remained mired in a deep economic recession, and a messy constitutional wrangle with Quebec lingered unresolved. Not since August 1990 had Mulroney's approval ratings passed 20%, and chances of winning a fall election seemed remote. Eight and a half years into the job, the Prime Minister said he would step aside in favor of a fresh face to lead the country.

Mulroney will yield in mid-June, when his party chooses a successor, who will serve as Prime Minister until parliamentary elections are held, probably in September. Defense Minister Kim Campbell, 45, leads a passel of undeclared P.C. pretenders. The likely opponent, for now, would appear to be Jean Chretien, 59, chief of the Liberal Party, which led the Conservatives 45% to 25% in the latest poll.