(Quebec) Things are stirring at the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ). After offering Marie-Claude Nichols to share with Frantz Benjamin the role of third vice-president of the National Assembly during the mandate, the party’s interim leader, Marc Tanguay, withdrew his offer. He says he made this decision in order to protect the “cohesion of the team”.
Officially, Mr. Tanguay still wants the MNA for Vaudreuil to return to the Liberal caucus. Earlier in the evening, Monday, The Press had confirmed that he had offered his former colleague – one of the rare Liberal MPs to have resisted the CAQ wave outside Montreal – to occupy the position of third vice-president for the last two years of the mandate . The member for Viau, Frantz Benjamin, would have held this position for the next two years.
However, this offer would not have gone through with Mr. Benjamin. In an interview with The Canadian Press, he said Monday that he was beginning to reflect on his political future under the circumstances. Result: by wanting to cut the pear in half, Marc Tanguay risked pushing another member of his caucus, already divided, towards the exit.
“After consultation with caucus members and activists working in party authorities, it appears that such an option is not viable and would not promote the cohesion of the Liberal team. I had to explore all the options to allow the MNA for Vaudreuil to return to caucus. However, the cohesion of the team being a priority, this avenue cannot be the solution”, declared Mr. Tanguay, late Monday evening.
“Consequently, I reiterate to Marie-Claude Nichols that the door of the Liberal caucus remains open and that I am ready to discuss with her the parliamentary and spokesperson responsibilities that will allow her return. Regarding the third vice-presidency of the National Assembly, my decision has been made, and the position will be occupied by the deputy for Viau, Frantz Benjamin, over the next four years,” he said.
Last month, M.me Nichols had expressed her desire to serve as third vice-president of the National Assembly. The former party leader, Dominique Anglade, had instead chosen to support the candidacy of Frantz Benjamin. After refusing the parliamentary responsibilities that Mme Anglade wanted to entrust to him, Mr.me Nichols had been kicked out of the caucus.
Several liberal tenors and former deputies had subsequently expressed their disagreement with the expulsion of the member for Vaudreuil. Dominique Anglade finally announced his departure from political life on November 7th.
Liberal MPs will hold a pre-session caucus in Parliament’s Red Room from Tuesday to Thursday. Without Mme Nichols into their ranks, and with the departure of Mme Anglade, the Liberals have only 19 MPs left in the Blue Room. It should be noted that the political parties that have had deputies elected these days negotiate the budgets associated with each parliamentary group according to their number of elected members.
Monsef Derraji becomes parliamentary leader
With the appointment of Marc Tanguay as interim leader of the PLQ, the member for the riding of Nelligan in Montreal, Monsef Derraji, becomes parliamentary leader of the official opposition in Quebec.
PHOTO ERICK LABBÉ, LE SOLEIL ARCHIVES
Liberal MP for Nelligan riding, Monsef Derraji
Mr. Derraji succeeds Mr. Tanguay, who held this position until last Thursday, when he took over from the resigning chef Dominique Anglade. As soon as work resumes on November 29, he will respond to government leader Simon Jolin-Barrette. Mr. Derraji, who was re-elected last October 3 for a second term, also expressed his interest last week in being a candidate in the next race for the leadership of the PLQ.
“If I trust the last messages I received, there are a lot of people encouraging me to go ahead, precisely to have a race where we will debate bold ideas. I think it’s healthy for the Liberal Party of Quebec to have a race, to have several candidates, and I encourage those who want the Liberal Party to return to the political spectrum to get started,” said said Mr Derraji, adding that a final decision would be announced once the rules of the race are announced, probably next year.
The PLQ also announced Monday that the member for Jeanne-Mance–Viger, Filomena Rotiroti, will be chief whip of the official opposition, while Enrico Ciccone will be president of the caucus. Virginie Dufour, a newly elected representative from the riding of Mille-Îles in Laval, will be deputy parliamentary leader.