The victory of Quebec solidaire Monday in the by-election in Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne, a former red bastion, is a “failure” of which the interim leader of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ), Marc Tanguay, takes part. of responsibility.
“But it’s also a team result,” he added, during a press briefing at the National Assembly. Mr. Tanguay stressed that an analysis of this defeat will be necessary, refusing to blame the organization. “With the resources that have been put into action, we have much to be proud of. »
On Monday, the solidarity Guillaume Cliche-Rivard chased the Liberals from this Liberal constituency since its creation, winning 44.5% of the vote in the complementary ballot. Contested, Dominique Anglade left the leadership of the PLQ on November 7, then her seat as deputy on November 1er last December. She has represented the electors of Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne since 2015.
The Liberal Party of Quebec won 28.96% of the vote, while the Parti Québécois finished third (11.41%), the Coalition avenir Québec fourth (9.36%) and the Conservative Party of Quebec fifth. (2.69%).
These results do not mean that voters in Southwest Montreal have turned their backs on liberal values, according to the interim leader. “Yesterday’s results are not a dismissal of the importance of social justice,” he argued. Yesterday’s election is not a rejection of the importance of having a strong economy in order to be able to fight climate change. »
After congratulating Mr. Cliche-Rivard, Marc Tanguay praised the dynamism of the defeated Liberal candidate, Christopher Baenninger, who led an election campaign “at all times”. The social entrepreneur bowed to the lawyer specializing in immigration, who thus becomes the twelfth united deputy in the National Assembly.
In light of this failure, Mr. Tanguay recalled the extent of the work that the Liberals will have to do to reconnect with the Quebec population. “It’s clear that yesterday is not a step forward,” he said sorry.
The PLQ experienced a historic defeat in the last Quebec elections, winning 14.37% of the popular vote and electing 21 deputies. It now has 19 deputies.
“worrying” results
The bitter failure of the Liberals in Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne is “very worrying”, according to former PLQ MP Christine St-Pierre. “That’s the message it sends of our ability to guard castles. You really have to find a way to pull yourself together, ”said the one who represented the voters of Acadia from 2007 to 2022.
If she remains liberal, Ms.me St-Pierre points out that he left politics and now leaves it to caucus members and activists to find the way back up the slope. One thing is certain, these results are not attractive to potential candidates for the leadership of the PLQ, she said.
It is possible that several voters who voted for Dominique Anglade last fall decided not to go to the polls this time, says the former journalist. “They were probably angry and disappointed that she had been removed so cavalierly from the party leadership,” she said.
The Liberals’ failure to keep Saint-Henri-Sainte-Anne in their fold demonstrates that the former leader of the PLQ “was more popular than the party” itself, says Jeremy Ghio, former director of communications for Ms.me England.
The reconstruction of the political formation will undoubtedly require several electoral cycles, he continues. “It takes time to build a house. Activists will have to be patient with the next leader,” warns Mr. Ghio.