(Ottawa) Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez is maintaining the suspense regarding his intentions to enter or not the race for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ).
While in Winnipeg on Thursday, Minister Rodriguez, who is also Justin Trudeau’s political lieutenant in Quebec, did not want to say how many days of reflection he would give himself before deciding whether he will be a candidate in the leadership race or whether he will continue his political career on the federal scene.
Rodriguez was in the Manitoba capital to announce federal investments in air transportation. It was the transport minister’s first public appearance since it was revealed Sunday that he was seriously considering running for the PLQ leadership.
“I’m here to make an announcement, which is a wonderful announcement. All I said is that I was approached by many people to return to the party where it all started for me, the Quebec Liberal Party. It touches me a lot and I receive it with great humility. But I have no further comments,” he said in response to a question from a journalist.
Asked to clarify the elements that could feed his thinking, Mr. Rodriguez politely declined the invitation.
So far, former Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre is the only one to have confirmed that he will be on the starting line for the party leadership race, which will begin on January 13. The new leader will be elected on June 14 in Quebec City.
Former president of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec Charles Milliard, who recently resigned from his position, is also preparing his arrival. The two men will be present this weekend in Montreal for the Young Liberals convention. Victoriaville Mayor Antoine Tardif, former advisor to federal MP Alain Rayes, is also considering running.
In an interview with The Pressthis week, Denis Coderre said that Pablo Rodriguez is “making a mistake” if his thinking leads him to launch himself into the race for the leadership of the PLQ. He maintained that he sees Mr. Rodriguez more likely to face Valérie Plante in the next municipal elections than to try to take control of the PLQ.
Mr. Coderre also stated that “the timing is bad” for Mr. Rodriguez, in the context where Justin Trudeau’s political lieutenant in Quebec should, according to him, concentrate fully on helping the Liberal Party of Canada win the by-election in LaSalle–Émard–Verdun, on September 16, rather than thinking about continuing his political career in Quebec.
Mr. Coderre also said he discussed the leadership race with Mr. Rodriguez before reports surfaced that he had leadership ambitions.
“Pablo, he’s a buddy“I was also a Quebec lieutenant. When it no longer suited me, I resigned,” said Mr. Coderre, a former federal MP in the riding of Bourassa in Montreal from 1997 to 2013.
” [Pablo Rodriguez] is an excellent politician. We did each other a favor. He has an exceptional office. […] But I know the provincial Liberals don’t want to be a branch of Ottawa. I think it’s a drag on him,” he also said.