Bruno Marchand double-locks the door: he will not seek the leadership of the Liberal Party. The rumor sent him, Monday morning, to the head of the PLQ, which has just ended a congress where internal divisions on the nationalist question have burst into the open.
At the microphone of Paul Arcand Monday morning, the political columnist Jonathan Trudeau first explained that the candidacies were not raining to take the reins of the moribund party. “The name that comes up often is Bruno Marchand, the mayor of the City of Quebec, advanced the columnist. There are really liberal activists who see Bruno Marchand as the savior of the PLQ. »
The columnist was careful to underline the improbability of the rumor which sent the chosen one from the capital to the provincial arena.
Journalist and political analyst Sébastien Bovet, of Radio-Canada, also added a caveat on the airwaves of First hour, the morning of the region of Quebec. “I do not see Bruno Marchand leaving his post as mayor in 2024 to embark on the race for the leadership of the Liberal Party, he nuanced. It would be frowned upon. »
The main interested party was quick to extinguish the hopes of liberal activists who saw him presiding over the resurrection of their party. His press officer, Thomas Gaudreault, confirms that “Mr. Marchand does not intend to participate in the leadership race of the PLQ”. He adds that “his only motivation remains the creation of a modern city of Quebec. »
Last fall, barely a few days after the PLQ had suffered the worst electoral thaw in its history, the name of Régis Labeaume as a potential successor to Dominique Anglade had also circulated.
The former mayor of Quebec had also quickly made his political ambitions clear: “It’s out of the question! “said the now columnist on the airwaves of Hi hello ! .
Several Liberals have also dreamed of seeing the former CEO of Hydro-Québec, Sophie Brochu, embark on the race for their leadership after her resignation from the state corporation. She showed no sign of interest. In January, she confided on the airwaves of Cogeco that “there is not a party that would allow me to have the freedom of expression that I have today”.
Mayor Bruno Marchand has brought together several former members of the PQ and the Bloc Québécois in his bodyguard. Although he has never publicly displayed his political affinities, he presents his movement as a coalition that transcends provincial loyalties and is capable of bringing together people of all stripes.