Former federal minister and former mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre confirmed Friday morning that he will run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ). His candidacy, he said straight away, aims to block the path of the Parti Québécois, currently leading the polls, and which advocates the holding of a third referendum on the sovereignty of Quebec.
“Me, I don’t need to put my face on a dollar, and I don’t need a new country, I have one,” he explained during a briefing. press conference given in front of the National Assembly, surrounded by a few supporters.
“The best way not to have a referendum is not to vote for them,” he added. We are the only federalist party. […] For me, what is important is that we put a stop to that. »
Mr. Coderre specified that he intends to be a candidate in the riding of Bellechasse, located in the Chaudière-Appalaches region, suggesting that he intends to invest there, regardless of the result of the leadership race.
“One, it’s a Federalist county. Secondly, it is a county with a high French-speaking content, which is also well known in the agricultural and industrial sector,” he argued. ” Never mind, [la course] won or not, I am going to run for office in Bellechasse. »
The Bellechasse riding passed into the hands of the Coalition Avenir Québec in 2018. MP Stéphanie Lachance then beat former Liberal minister Dominique Vien by obtaining 56% of the votes. In 2022, Mme Lachance received 45% of the votes, ahead of conservative candidate Michel Tardif.
Mr. Coderre also indicated that he supports the project of a third link between Quebec and Lévis. “I am for the third link. The problem is the lack of credibility of this government. »
The PLQ will elect its new leader on June 14, 2025, at the end of a congress which will take place in Quebec. The starting gun for the leadership race will be given on January 13, 2025. Aspiring leaders will have three months — until April 11 — to submit their candidacy. Between April and early June, the party will organize four debates. This will be followed by the vote of the members, which will begin on June 9 and end at the congress on June 14.
The cost of entry to the race will be $40,000. Candidates will also have to “collect the signatures of 750 members in good standing from at least 70 constituencies and 12 regions, of which at least 350 must be new members”. The electoral spending limit was set at $400,000 for candidates.
The president and general manager of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec (FCCQ), Charles Milliard, is also being considered for the Liberal leadership. He also intends to leave his position at the FCCQ on July 1.
The name of the mayor of Victoriaville, Antoine Tardif, is also circulating in liberal pharmacies.
The MP for Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Frédéric Beauchemin, has already expressed interest in the position. He obtained the support of former Finance Minister Carlos Leitão, although he has still not confirmed his intentions.