After more than two weeks of holding press briefings, meeting with constituents and canvassing daily, political party leaders will almost all be working away from the cameras on Wednesday as they pass this 18e campaign day preparing for the first televised debate.
François Legault (CAQ), Dominique Anglade (PLQ), Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois (QS) and Paul St-Pierre Plamondon (PQ) have all confirmed that they are not planning any public activity on Wednesday in order to focus on their preparation for the “Face-to-Face” of TVA, which will take place Thursday evening.
Only Éric Duhaime, of the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ), will meet the press in the morning in Laval to present his party’s financial framework. The PCQ is the last party to lend itself to the exercise.
The format of the “Face-à-Face” program aims to allow two leaders to engage in a debate of ideas, one against the other, around an issue. The event will be led by news anchor Pierre Bruneau, who will be coming out of retirement for one evening for the occasion — he will also be hosting election night on October 3 on the airwaves. of VAT.
A little over a week ago, the five chefs took part in the program “Cinq chefs, une lection” on Radio-Canada, where they took turns answering questions from journalists Patrice Roy, Céline Galipeau and Anne-Marie Dussault.
However, the “Face-to-Face” of TVA will be for them the first opportunity to cross swords directly. Another debate is scheduled on Radio-Canada exactly one week later, on September 22.
On Tuesday, Mr. Legault admitted that he expects to be the target of attacks during the debate on Thursday evening.
“It’s a bit normal when you look at the polls. We try to […] provide answers. Rest too, because there is a certain stress, ”he told reporters.
François Legault is the only leader to have already participated in a televised election debate at prime time.