Former Liberal minister Pierre Moreau announced on Monday that he will not be a candidate for the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) leadership race, even though he says he was encouraged to do so by former colleagues and “ many activists.
“All these encouragements are as many marks of confidence for which I consider myself privileged and honored,” wrote Mr. Moreau in a statement posted on Twitter. If he closes the door to embark on the race for permanent leadership, the associate director of the law firm Bélanger Sauvé said he remains an active member of the party.
After the resignation of Dominique Anglade, on November 7, the name of Pierre Moreau had circulated among the potential candidates. The 64-year-old, who left politics in 2018, finished second to Philippe Couillard in the 2013 leadership race.
Liberal MPs André Fortin and Monsef Derraji have left the door open to the possibility of running.
Until a new leader is crowned at the head of the PLQ, the member for LaFontaine Marc Tanguay assumes the role of interim leader of the official opposition in the National Assembly. Asked about his interest in permanent leadership when he took office, he said his thinking “hasn’t even begun”.
No date for the Liberal leadership race has been announced at this time.
On October 3, the Liberals suffered a historic defeat by winning only 14.37% of the vote and electing 21 MPs. At the end of October, Ms. Anglade was strongly criticized for excluding MNA Marie-Claude Nichols from the caucus, causing the number of elected members of the PLQ to drop to 20. On 1er next December, this figure will fall to 19 with the official departure of the former leader of the party.
Advocate for “a more inclusive Quebec”
In his short statement, Pierre Moreau shot an arrow at Prime Minister François Legault, saying he wanted to campaign for “a more inclusive, fairer and more prosperous Quebec with respect for its French-speaking majority and the other communities that also make up society”.
During the election campaign, Dominique Anglade repeatedly accused Mr. Legault of dividing Quebecers, particularly on the subject of immigration.
Further details will follow.