The bleeding within the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) continues. MP and ex-finance minister Carlos Leitão has confirmed news that was expected: he will leave politics this fall, at the end of his current mandate.
The departure of Mr. Leitão, confirmed in an interview with Radio-Canada, brings to 12 the number of elected Liberals who will not run for a new four-year term in anticipation of the October 3 election. This is almost half of the PLQ caucus, which has 27 elected members.
The former Minister of Finance from 2014 to 2018, associated with a period of budgetary rigor in the province which notably led to various changes in the health network, nevertheless intends to contribute to the development of the electoral platform of the PLQ, which will be unveiled at the party’s general council on June 11.
The MP for Robert-Baldwin, in the West Island of Montreal, is 66 years old. Before entering politics in 2014, he worked for more than three decades in the field of banking and financial services. He currently wears various hats within the PLQ, including that of official opposition spokesperson for public finances, infrastructure and issues relating to the fight against climate change.
The departure of Mr. Leitão, which had been predicted by various media in recent weeks, is therefore added to that of many other long-time elected members of the Liberal Party, including Gaétan Barrette, Lise Thériault and Pierre Arcand.
In recent months, Liberal leader Dominique Anglade has expressed her interest in renewing the party’s team, in particular to attract “progressive” candidates.
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