The Parti Québécois (PQ) is about to lose an experienced MP. The elected Duplessis, Lorraine Richard, will not stand for re-election in 2022.
The duty was able to confirm this information, first reported by TVA Nouvelles on Wednesday. “It’s mainly for health reasons,” wrote PQ press secretary Laura Chouinard-Thuly in an exchange of text messages.
Mme Richard, 62, will answer questions from the media tomorrow in Sept-Îles. She must complete her mandate alongside her six colleagues from the PQ caucus.
The North Shore elected official, born in Havre-Saint-Pierre, has been involved in active politics since 2003, the year she replaced Normand Duguay in the PQ bastion of Duplessis. Since then, she has held several positions as spokesperson, notably for maritime transport, social services and, more recently, for seniors.
An auxiliary nurse by training, she also spent part of her professional life in the school environment.
Mme Richard is the oldest member of her caucus. Pascal Bérubé and Sylvain Gaudreault joined her in 2007, then Véronique Hivon the following year. All three sat as members of the government during Pauline Marois’ sole term as prime minister.
If Mr. Bérubé has already confirmed that he wants to start again in 2022, the other two have not made a decision as to their participation in the October election. The caucus could therefore be deprived of three of its long-time elected officials.
The Parti Québécois, which had ten MNAs the day after the 2018 election, has only seven left. In the wake of the departure of Sylvain Roy, who became an independent MNA for Bonaventure, Mr.me Richard has repeatedly been questioned about her confidence in PQ leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.
The one who supported Sylvain Gaudreault in the race for the leadership of the PQ has several times assured to have rallied to the new leadership of “PSPP”.