(Quebec) Charles Milliard, who recently resigned from his position as president of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), is officially launching himself into the race for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ).
The main person concerned announced the news this Friday on TVA. He is the second person after former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre to confirm that he wants to succeed Dominique Anglade as leader of the Liberals.
The reflection is over. After receiving the support of many young people, having met activists from all regions with whom I had many discussions on the future of Quebec and our party, I confirm to you: I will be a candidate for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party.
Charles Milliard, former president of the FCCQ, in a publication on his Instagram account
The official announcement of his candidacy will come in the coming weeks, indicated his spokesperson, Nicolas Proulx.
“I will present to you very soon the ideas that drive me and the team that will help me realize them. It’s promising,” Mr. Milliard also wrote on social networks.
Support from young liberals
Last May, during a PLQ general council in Bromont, The Press had revealed that Mr Milliard was preparing his entrance on the scene and benefited from the support of a group of 80 young liberal activists1The former president of the FCCQ will also be present this Saturday in Montreal at a congress of the PLQ Youth Commission on the theme of the renewal of federalism.
The support of young Liberals could make a difference, because under the party’s terms, members aged 25 and under represent 33% of the votes in a leadership race.
Candidates who want to succeed Dominique Anglade will therefore have to work hard to recruit new members aged 16 to 25.
The PLQ leadership race will officially launch next January. Four debates are scheduled between April 12 and June 8. The next leader must be elected in Quebec City on June 14, 2025.
In addition to Mr. Milliard and Mr. Coderre, who are officially announced candidates, federal Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez is currently gauging his support. Earlier this week, in Winnipeg, the man who is also Justin Trudeau’s political lieutenant in Quebec left his intentions hanging in the air. In an interview on CJAD in Montreal, Liberal MP Désirée McGraw has already given him her support if he runs.
The member for the Marguerite-Bougeoys riding in Montreal, Frédéric Beauchemin, is also expected to enter the race. Mr. Beauchemin, who will also be at the Young Liberals convention this Saturday, has not, however, made his candidacy official.
The mayor of Victoriaville and former advisor to federal MP Alain Rayes, Antoine Tardif, is also considering running as a candidate.
With The Canadian Press
Young people aged 16 to 25 have deserted the PLQ
As the Young Liberals’ convention opens this Saturday, The Canadian Press has learned that the number of members of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) aged 16 to 25 is anemic. The outgoing president of the party’s youth wing, Lina Yunes, is talking about 500 young members at present. “We are in a time where political involvement is not a priority for young people,” she maintains in an interview with The Canadian Press. She assures, however, that there has been an increase in young members in the PLQ in recent months and that the leadership race will attract others. However, two Liberal sources to whom The Canadian Press granted anonymity, because they were not authorized to speak on the subject, indicated that the number of young members in good standing would rather be below 350. The party did not want to speculate on the figures. “The Quebec Liberal Party has a policy of not confirming the number of its members,” the party’s president, Rafael Primeau-Ferraro, wrote in a letter. Last January, he stated that the number of members – regardless of age – was between 15,000 and 20,000.
The Canadian Press
1. Read the article “Charles Milliard is preparing, young liberals support him”