They left their post as MPs with regret, after losing in the Quebec elections on October 3. Four months later, The duty spoke with four of them who have recovered from their defeat.
Emilise Lessard-Therrien,
former solidarity MP for Rouyn-Noranda–Témiscamingue
“The two weeks following the election were probably the most difficult of my life,” says Ms.me Lessard-Therrien, who finished second, behind his CAQ opponent Daniel Bernard.
Despite her defeat, the 31-year-old woman claims to want to run again in the 2026 provincial elections. virtual interview from her home in Duhamel-Ouest, Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
In the absence of being able to debate in the Blue Room of the National Assembly, the former deputy uses her talents as a speaker as part of a contract to teach high school drama. “We often say that question period at the National Assembly is a bit like theatre, a show,” says the holder of an individualized bachelor’s degree in secondary education. I said to myself: we are going to take this at its word and we are going to make it a real experience in dramatic art. »
Still, he misses politics. “Not having the feeling of being able to help or advance causes as before and of being part of the solution, that is still difficult on a daily basis”, underlines Mme Lessard-Therrien, a hint of emotion in his voice.
The mother of two little girls, aged two and five, was thrown into the media spotlight last summer for denouncing the impacts of arsenic emissions from the Horne smelter in Rouyn-Noranda, a file whom she knows well. “I found myself thrust into the national media, doing more than ever in my entire tenure. »
This moment was decisive in his life. “It gives a lot more assurance, a lot more confidence. I had fun telling my former fellow MPs that the girl who walked out of parliament in June 2022 [à la fin de la session parlementaire] is not the same as the one that would have returned in October 2022. It’s a bit of a shame. »
Richard Campeau,
ex-caquiste deputy of Bourget
Caquiste Richard Campeau lost in the Montreal riding of Camille-Laurin (formerly known as Bourget) to Parti Québécois leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon. The withdrawal of the solidarity candidate, after she was surprised to steal a Parti Québécois leaflet, could no doubt have given the PQ a boost.
Since his defeat, the one who was a deputy from 2018 to 2022 took the opportunity to start a project he had in mind for a long time: to write a detective novel. He does not know if this book will ever appear. “You have to convince a publisher and, to convince him, you have to give something that is drinkable. I know that I can write well, I am very good in French. But can I be of interest to a reader for four to five hundred pages? I don’t know,” said the 68-year-old, who is on the call from Havana, Cuba.
Apart from detective novels, of which he is fond, Mr. Campeau always follows the media diligently, to stay up to date with current events in Quebec. The engineer by training even watched the National Assembly’s question period last fall, he admits with a laugh.
What he misses the most in politics is the proximity to citizens and community organizations, he says. “But you have to deal with it and not mope around for too long,” he hastens to add.
He does not know if he will be a candidate in the next Quebec elections. “I really have no idea at the moment, it’s too far. However, he does not intend to return to work as a chemical engineer. “I don’t feel like it anymore,” he said, before closing the discussion with a few words in Spanish.
Saul Polo,
former Liberal MP for Laval-des-Rapides
After his defeat, Saul Polo needed to get out of politics and take time to recharge his batteries. “I had accumulated fatigue and I needed to clear my mind,” says the former elected Liberal, whose Laval riding was swept away by the CAQ wave, with a relaxed air.
The last year has been very intense, relates the one who was a deputy from 2014 to 2022. His electoral pre-campaign began in June, at the end of the parliamentary session. “With the volunteers, we knocked on almost 16,000 doors over a period of about three and a half months. “When he thinks of his two terms, Mr. Polo has the feeling of accomplishment.
He took advantage of the last few months to diligently resume his physical training at Mount Royal Park, which he calls his playground. an election campaign. »
Does he plan to run in the next Quebec elections? ” No. 2026 is very far, answers the one who was president of the Liberal Party of Quebec from 2012 to 2014. Then honestly, I prefer to let the party renew itself and continue its introspection. The political formation suffered a historic defeat on October 3, with only 21 elected candidates and 14.37% of the popular vote.
However, there is no question of putting a cross on politics for the moment. “I’m too young,” argues the 47-year-old. But let’s say that in the short to medium term, I’m going to take time for myself. The father of a 14-year-old boy said he should start working again in a few weeks, but did not give details.
Meganne Perry Melancon,
former Parti Québécois MP for Gaspé
Four months after her defeat against Caquiste Stéphane Sainte-Croix, the former PQ MP for Gaspé believes she has rested enough. Méganne Perry Mélançon has also been back in politics since last week, but this time as national spokesperson for the Parti Québécois. In order to support the three elected PQ members, she will represent the political formation in public events and with the media in Montreal and in the regions.
This custom-made position is not a consolation prize for her defeat, but rather a privilege, assures the 32-year-old woman. “I do not come back with a bitterness or a feeling of revenge. I want to stay in this area because I am passionate about it and because I am young and I think I am still capable of coming back strong, ”said the woman who was an MP from 2018 to 2022 enthusiastically.
Mme Perry Mélançon aspires to stand as a candidate in the next elections. His defeat on October 3 did not take away his desire. “It’s part of the game. We are accountable to the citizens, and it is they who have the last word. She says that she walked after this ordeal. “It is in defeat that we get to know each other better and that we also receive the most sympathy and recognition for what has been done. »
Over the past few months, the Gaspé woman has been able to savor the pleasure of going on snowshoes for a whole day or reviewing the discounts in flyers. “It’s little things like that, that you don’t allow yourself a lot when you work in the public. ” ” I took the opportunity. But it’s a long time before you enjoy it [après une telle défaite] “, she says.