The Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) is still missing 17 out of 125 candidates, but leader Dominique Anglade is trying to be reassuring.
The nominations game seems to be a headache when the campaign is already well underway since Sunday. So many lost days for those who will be chosen to wear the colors of the PLQ.
Ms. Anglade’s tour also took a “break” in the middle of the day on Tuesday, after the cancellation of activities.
Quite unique in the history of this great historic party that has long governed Quebec: there are a lot of candidates missing at the start of the campaign and there does not seem to be a rush to fill the positions.
On Monday, the Liberal candidate in Vanier — Les Rivières, François Beaulé, withdrew for professional reasons. The same day, it was finally announced that a strategist and veteran of the Liberal cabinets, Julie White, was launching into Jean-Talon, which had previously been a bastion of the PLQ.
But there are also several ridings still vacant such as Bellechasse, Portneuf, Gaspé, Duplessis and René-Lévesque.
“There will be announcements in due time,” Ms. Anglade keeps repeating.
“There will be announcements that will be made today (Tuesday)”, she said at a press conference Tuesday morning in Quebec.
She pointed out that in 2014, candidates were also announced in the first week of the campaign.
“Officially, we will have 125 candidates,” assured the chef.
This start to the campaign seems laborious for the liberal organization, which has long been a well-oiled machine for winning elections.
Tuesday noon, activities planned in Montmagny, in the riding of Côte-du-Sud, were canceled due to the weather. The leader was however going to hold a militant rally in the early evening in this constituency.
Monday evening, Ms. Anglade took part in a campaign launch in Jean-Lesage, in Quebec, in front of a small group of activists.