The Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ) on Thursday launched a reflection and consultation committee with the aim of reconnecting with those who deserted the political formation in the last elections.
“I think there are still a lot of people who share liberal ideas and values, but who for one reason or another decided to vote differently in the last election or even not to vote,” said the former journalist André Pratte, who will co-chair the committee with MP Madwa-Nika Cadet.
Supported by 12 other activists, they will travel across Quebec to welcome new ideas, the party announced at a press briefing in Quebec. “We must evolve like all political currents, adjust the embodiment of our values to the new context of today,” argued Mr. Pratte, after specifying that this does not mean “changing who we are.”
He and his team will try to answer questions like “What does it mean to be a liberal in Quebec in 2023? », « What is the place of the PLQ on the new political chessboard? and “What are the principles that define 21st century liberalism and which the Quebec Liberal Party should inspire and promote?” » .
“If the committee does its job as it should, and I’m sure it will, people will rediscover liberal values in all their relevance today, in modernity, and they will come back to the party,” advanced Mr. Pratte.
The PLQ is the “only party” that wants to bring Quebecers together behind a project of prosperity, social justice and economic development in all regions, argued Ms. Cadet.
In the last general elections, the political formation experienced a historic defeat by only winning 14.37% of the popular vote. In the additional ballot of March 13, the red castle of Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne escaped the Liberals.
The challenges are numerous for the PLQ, recognized Mr. Pratte, while emphasizing that the party has recovered from difficult situations in the past. “Given the beliefs I’ve held for many years, I would have felt really uncomfortable not taking up the challenge one way or another,” he explained.
Not an autopsy of the last elections
According to a Léger-The duty published in early March, the Liberals obtained only 4% of voting intentions among Francophones. Questioned on this subject, André Pratte retorted that the committee was not a “post mortem of past elections”. “We really want to work with the future in mind. »
Some meetings will be in person while others will be held virtually, said PLQ president Rafael P. Ferraro.
After this tour to the four corners of Quebec, a report will be submitted to activists during a general council of the party scheduled for the fall of 2023. It will provide food for thought, without however imposing decision-making, said Mr. Ferrari.
The latter also said that the committee did not have the mandate to make recommendations about the future leadership race. Since the departure of Dominique Anglade last November, MP Marc Tanguay has held the role of interim leader of the PLQ.
The party has yet to announce the rules of the race to determine who will be the next Liberal leader.