During the swearing-in of the 21 Liberal deputies on Tuesday, the leader Dominique Anglade said she was “entirely lucid” in relation to the historically low results obtained by her political party in the last elections.
“We have a job to do to reconnect with all of Quebec,” acknowledged in a press briefing Mme England. The latter said “to observe” that her party won only 21 constituencies and 14.4% of the popular vote. Apart from Pontiac, in Outaouais, all the other victories of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) have been made in the metropolitan area.
Earlier Tuesday, the elected Liberals became deputies by taking an oath to the people of Quebec and to the British Crown, in the Red Room. “I would still like to point out that the Liberal caucus is proudly the most feminine with 62% of women,” said Dominique Anglade, provoking thunderous applause. The start of work at the National Assembly is scheduled for November 29.
During her swearing-in speech, the Liberal leader returned to themes repeatedly addressed by the PLQ during the election campaign. She highlighted the need to address the labor shortage and health system issues, such as nurses’ working conditions and emergency room wait times.
She recalled that her political formation would play its role of “watchdog”. Mme Anglade warned CAQ leader François Legault that if he wanted to “divide rather than unite, he will find the 21 official opposition deputies on his way”.
A “very united” caucus
The leader of the PLQ did not want to give importance to the testimonies of former party elected officials collected by The Canadian Press who demand his departure. “It was anonymous,” she said. Me, what I know is that we have a very united, very close-knit caucus. »
Dominique Anglade did not want to come forward on the precise date on which his leadership will be subject to a vote of confidence. “It’s part of the decisions that the executive of our political party will have to make,” she said. However, she intends to remain in office until the congress which is to be held within a year.
In addition to welcoming the new caucus, the Liberal leader on Tuesday congratulated the 125 candidates who carried the Liberal colors, despite “circumstances which were not always favorable”. “You did this job brilliantly, with intelligence and with courage,” she said.
In the days following the call of the elections, withdrawals of candidates came to fall on the PLQ.
If the party finally managed to submit 125 candidates, several constituencies were vacant at the start of the election campaign.