Disastrous election results | Anglade “completely lucid” in the face of the challenges of the PLQ

(Quebec) After having suffered the worst defeat in liberal history in terms of popular vote, Dominique Anglade says he is taking an “entirely lucid” look at the challenges of his formation. The Liberal leader intends to remain in office until the vote of confidence in 2023. She promises to “reconnect” with the regions, a wish expressed in 2018.

Fanny Levesque
The Press

“We are completely lucid about the results of the election of October 3,” assumed the Liberal leader during a speech following her swearing in on Tuesday at the Salon Rouge. In turn, the 21 elected Liberals took the oath to King Charles III as required by procedure, to the applause of their relatives and defeated Liberal candidates gathered for this solemn event.

“Our deputation comes from the greater metropolitan area of ​​Montreal, Laval, Montérégie and Outaouais. It’s a fact, but that in no way disqualifies us from raising issues affecting Gaspésie, Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Côte-Nord, Capitale-Nationale, Mauricie, Estrie or Abitibi,” said the leader of the official opposition of the 43^e legislature.

Dominique Anglade managed to save the furniture on October 3 by having 21 deputies elected, all in Greater Montreal, with the exception of Pontiac, in Outaouais. The PLQ recorded the worst performance in its history by winning 14.37% of the vote, which is less than Québec solidaire and the Parti québécois, which nevertheless elected 11 and 3 deputies respectively.

On this subject, Mr.^me Anglade reaffirmed that she will not hold any “public discussion” regarding her agreement to allow the recognition of these two formations as parliamentary groups.

“The Liberal Party of Quebec must once again become the crossroads between the great ideas of today and tomorrow, and Quebecers from all regions. We therefore have a huge job to do and we are aware of it,” continued the Liberal leader. Although she says she remains “lucid”, Ms.^me Anglade evokes very little when it comes to knowing what may have gone wrong in the campaign.

M^me Anglade once again pointed the finger at the organization on the ground during the elections. His start to the campaign was plagued by several pitfalls related to the Liberal organization, such as uncrowded rallies and candidates who withdrew at the last minute.

“Reconnect” with the regions

The Liberal leader maintained that she would very soon be touring the regions again to “reconnect” with French-speaking voters. She will be supported in particular by André Fortin (Pontiac), the only Liberal representative outside Greater Montreal, to whom Mr.^me Anglade has not given any officer duties. “He will have a huge role to play on the pitch,” she said.

The principal concerned says not to put his head in the sand: “There is important work to be done, we will not tell stories. In several regions across Quebec, it was difficult. The results are not what we wanted, ”he said after taking the oath.

The new deputies all held the same line. “We must reconnect, of course, with the regions. We agree that we are very concentrated in Montreal right now, we have to hammer out messages that speak to all Quebecers,” argued the new elected representative of Mont-Royal–Outremont, Michelle Setlakwe.

“We tried to demonstrate it during the campaign, precisely with Dominique who was outside Montreal at the start of the campaign, in Quebec, a little everywhere thereafter, ending up in the Far North. So yes, we must reconnect with other Quebecers who did not vote [pour nous] “, supported for his part the deputy of Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Fred Beauchemin.

However, this is the wish expressed by the former Premier of Quebec Philippe Couillard after the bitter defeat of 2018. Dominique Anglade had also started her mandate as leader by touring the regions of Quebec. She also presented a Charter of the regions which she hammered out in the campaign.

“Well, it is clear that the work must continue. The work that has been started has not been sufficient, it must be said, and that we will have to redouble our efforts and ardor from an organizational point of view, from a field point of view”, explained M^me England on Tuesday.

In office until vote of confidence

Despite this historic defeat, Dominique Anglade affirms that she intends to remain in office until the vote of confidence of the members, which must take place by the next convention in November 2023. The Liberal leader rejected the grim record drawn by the least a dozen Liberals, quoted anonymously in an article in The Canadian Press, who are calling for his departure.

“When you have names, you will come to see me,” she retorted. The new president of the Liberal caucus, Enrico Ciccone, has assured that the newly elected members line up behind Mr.^me England. “I can confirm that Dominique has the full support of the caucus. We have already moved on to other things,” he said, referring to the article published last week.

According to the constitution of the PLQ, the members must vote by ballot if they maintain their confidence in their leader during the convention following a general election, if the political formation has not elected a sufficient number of deputies to form the government.

With Hugo Pilon-Larose, The Press