Denis Coderre’s visit to Quebec revived the rivalry between sovereignists and federalists on Wednesday. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who denounces the return to fear campaigns, still fraternized in front of the cameras with the one who wants to revive the No camp.
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As the former mayor of Montreal finished responding to journalists, after attending the debates at the Salon Bleu, the leader of the Parti Québécois invited himself into the fray.
“Welcome to the National Assembly, Mr. Coderre. […] Have a good race,” the PQ leader wished him.
“Mr. Plamondon [et moi] we do not agree, but I find him very dignified and very respectful,” underlined the prospective candidate for leadership of the PLQ, who plans to run on the South Shore of Quebec, but not in Lévis, nor in Beauce, he said.
It should be noted that the Liberals did not reserve a particular welcome for the former federal minister, who took out his PLQ membership card at the end of January, in the event that he attempted to succeed Dominique Anglade.
“Mr. Coderre, like any citizen, has the right to come to the National Assembly. […] The caucus is one thing, the party is another thing. […] It’s going to be an exciting race, that’s what we see,” explained liberal parliamentary leader Monsef Derraji, without wanting to elaborate on the subject.
Fear campaign
At the start of the day, the leader of the PQ did not mince his words in reacting to the interview that Mr. Coderre gave to our Parliamentary Office, in which he announced the launch of the “No thanks!” movement. against the “separatist” threat.
“I don’t think the fear campaign [de M. Coderre]with the slogans of the 80s, fits with what everyone is seeing in 2024,” said Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon.
But “we must not underestimate Denis Coderre,” said the leader of the PQ, who believes that the former mayor is in a good position to become leader of the PLQ, and become “co-spokesperson of the No camp with François Legault,” he said.
“Faced with these two camps which are forming in an increasingly defined manner, there is also a responsibility on the side of the CAQ to tell us which camp they will join between Yes and No,” observed Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon.
Former PQ members who joined the CAQ, such as Bernard Drainville, Benoit Charette and Jean-François Roberge, have predicted that there will be no third referendum, classifying this debate in the past (see what they said ).
Asked like several of his colleagues to know which camp he is in, the CAQ member for Beauce-Sud, Samuel Poulin, said he was counting on the Prime Minister to defend his party’s position.
“I believe in a strong Quebec within Canada. […] I am in the CAQ camp. There is a strong Quebec within Canada and I have complete confidence in Mr. Legault to mention it well,” he summarized.
For his part, Quebec Solidaire MP Sol Zanetti is betting that the movement launched by Mr. Coderre will increase support for independence. “Usually, when we have a major social debate on independence, it is the support for yes that increases. This is what we saw in 1995,” recalled the member for Jean-Lesage.
What they said:
“As a society, we have issues that are much more important and priority than another referendum on sovereignty,” continued the member for Lévis. […] So if the PQ, then the liberals with Coderre or not, want to persist on a referendum, good for them.”
– Bernard Drainville, current Minister of Education and former PQ minister
“There is no discomfort at all. I left the Parti Québécois to avoid these questions more than ten years ago.”
– Benoit Charette, current Minister of the Environment and former PQ
“What we know is that there will be no referendum!”
– Jean-François Roberge, current minister responsible for Canadian Relations and former PQ activist
“I am surprised that the federalist argument is so frozen in the 1980s. […] Faced with these two camps which are forming in an increasingly defined manner, there is also a responsibility on the side of the CAQ to tell us which camp they will join between Yes and No.
– Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Parti Québécois
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