(Montreal) After disappointing results in the last election, Québec solidaire wants to pull out all the stops to win the by-election in Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne, a riding that has been vacant since the resignation of Dominique Anglade, and swell its ranks by one MNA .
“One more is always the fun “Launched Monday the co-spokesperson of Quebec solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, with a smile. “But above all, it’s not just anyone: Guillaume Cliche-Rivard is a young lawyer that Quebeckers will start to know. This is the kind of voice we need in the National Assembly,” continued the parliamentary leader.
Québec solidaire, which is holding its pre-sessional caucus in Montreal on Monday, is the first party to put a candidate on the starting blocks in Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne. The Legault government must trigger the by-election in the Montreal riding somewhere in March. As in the fall, the left formation will rely on the lawyer Guillaume Cliche-Rivard.
A first partisan event was held on Sunday in Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne. On Monday, the candidate also appeared alongside the co-spokespersons to loud applause from caucus members.
“Guillaume Cliche-Rivard has never stopped working since October 3. We are still on the ground, I was there last Friday,” said Mr. Nadeau-Dubois. “We are impatiently awaiting the launch by François Legault of this election. We are ready […] whether he triggers it tomorrow or in three weeks. We are already on the ground, […] we are pumped up, we are motivated, ”he said.
The addition of a deputy to the ranks of Québec solidaire – which would bring its deputies to 12 – would give impetus to the formation, which has been little visible in the media since the fall. It could also soften the criticisms received following the disappointing results of the last campaign when Quebec solidaire added only two new seats, in addition to losing Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
Being self-critical, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois confided in an interview to The Press last week that he wanted to avoid “peaking”.
In the fall, former Liberal leader Dominique Anglade won with 36% of the vote – against 28% for QS and 18% for the CAQ. The solidarity nevertheless delighted Verdun, the neighboring constituency, of the Liberals, with the election of Alejandra Zaga Mendez.
According to Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, Mr. Cliche-Rivard could be “a strong voice for inclusion” in the National Assembly. “François Legault, when he talks about Quebec, it’s not true that everyone feels represented,” added the parliamentary leader, echoing François Legault’s controversial remarks on immigration during the campaign. electoral.
“Not our only priority”
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois stressed that the by-election in Saint-Henri–Sainte-Anne “is not the only priority” for Québec solidaire as parliamentary work resumes next week in Québec. Solidarity troops want in particular to make the cost of living their main battleground. Training priorities will also be discussed in caucus on Monday.
Mr. Nadeau-Dubois affirmed that the work of introspection following the elections is an “ongoing” process and will be addressed on February 11 and 12, when party members will meet in a national council to take stock of the last electoral sprint.