The interim leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), Marc Tanguay, backtracked on Monday, after proposing to the member excluded from the caucus, Marie-Claude Nichols, to occupy the position of third vice-president in the National Assembly for two years.
The position “will be occupied by the member for Viau, Frantz Benjamin, over the next four years,” said Mr. Tanguay, in a written statement. Mr. Benjamin, first chosen by the former liberal leader Dominique Anglade to play this role, had threatened to leave the party if he lost part of this function, had revealed The Canadian Press Monday evening.
After meeting Ms. Nichols on Sunday to try to reintegrate her into the caucus, Marc Tanguay had proposed to split the position in two, because it was coveted by the MP for Vaudreuil. “However, team cohesion being a priority, this avenue cannot be the solution,” he argued.
However, the door to the Liberal caucus remains open to Marie-Claude Nichols, said the interim leader. “I am ready to discuss with her the parliamentary and spokesperson responsibilities that will allow her return. Mr. Tanguay said he had offered “sincere apologies” to the elected official for her exclusion.
Ms. Nichols was ejected from the PLQ caucus on October 27 after refusing responsibilities within Ms. Anglade’s shadow cabinet. The latter resigned from her position as chief on November 7th.
Former elected Liberals had strongly criticized Dominique Anglade’s decision to exclude Marie-Claude Nichols from the caucus. The former leader had also failed to reintegrate her into the ranks of the party.
The member for Vaudreuil had deplored not having received an apology from Ms. Anglade.
After the exclusion of Marie-Claude Nichols and the departure of Dominique Anglade, the PLQ now has 19 elected members of the National Assembly.
With The Canadian Press