(Quebec) The day after his hard-won victory, the new mayor of Quebec extended his hand to elected officials from other political parties and did not rule out the idea of integrating some of them into his executive committee.
The election of Bruno Marchand on Sunday had the effect of an earthquake on the political landscape of the capital. The ballot ends 14 years of the Labeaume era with the departure of the outgoing mayor and the defeat of his runner-up, Marie-Josée Savard, by only 834 votes.
The city council is divided. The two parties which had dominated him until then now find themselves without a leader.
“We cannot function as if we were in the majority. We have to work together. Does that mean that in the executive committee, there will be people from other parties? Maybe, ”says Marchand, who promises a change of tone at Town Hall.
Strong and proud Quebec, Mr. Marchand’s party won 6 of the 21 districts. Team Marie-Josée Savard has 10 elected members. Quebec 21 has four and Transition Quebec won a seat.
The executive committee of Ville de Québec can have up to ten elected officials. This means that seats could be occupied by advisers from opposing formations, or by defectors.
The shock of the election has not yet finished showing its full potential: the future of Team Marie-Josée Savard (EMJS), heir to Team Labeaume, is still uncertain. Its leader will not sit in the opposition, since she did not have a running mate.
PHOTO PATRICE LAROCHE, THE SUN
Marie-Josée Savard was given the winner on Sunday night, but the full counting of the votes was ultimately in favor of Bruno Marchand.
On Monday, the party contented itself with recognizing Mr. Marchand’s victory and congratulating him. Mme Savard did not make a statement.
The day after his victory, Bruno Marchand also offered his support to his rival Marie-Josée Savard, who experienced a “cruel” evening marked by a premature victory speech.
” It’s cruel. It’s cruel to her, he notes. I have a lot, a lot of empathy. I wouldn’t have wanted to be in his place. We don’t wish that on any politician. ”
Quebec 21 in search of a chef
The old official opposition will change its face. Québec 21 is now the third most important formation on the board. Its leader, Jean-François Gosselin, has resigned, but will still sit as an advisor.
The elected of Quebec 21 Stevens Mélançon explains that the party will take the next few months to find a new leader. “The tone will change at City Hall,” he predicts, while noting that 15 of the 21 councilors are elected for the first time.
We’re going to call it a fairly disparate city council. We will need consultations and we will talk to each other. If it’s okay, it’s gonna be okay. But if things go badly, someone will have to put water in their wine, otherwise, it will be quite virulent.
Stevens Mélançon, elected from Quebec 21 in the district of La Chute-Montmorency-Seigneuriale
Jackie Smith, of Transition Quebec, intends to work with the new mayor to make Quebec “a fairer and greener city”. The ecological and progressive party had the first councilor in its history elected in Limoilou.
She especially wants to push Mr. Marchand to clarify his thoughts on the third link, he who blows hot and cold. “We absolutely want to kill this project,” she said.
Mme Would Smith be interested in a position on Bruno Marchand’s executive committee?
” I do not know yet. I did not have the opportunity to congratulate Mr. Marchand. I do not speak immediately. We have to think about that and talk about it with my team and Mr. Marchand. ”
No referendum on the tram
The most important project of the new mayor will undoubtedly be the tram. Both the ten elected members of EMJS and Mme Smith are in favor of this project. We must therefore expect some collaboration.
Bruno Marchand had promised during the campaign to better consult the population about this 3.3 billion project. One thing is certain, he does not want to know anything about a referendum.
“No, I will not do a referendum. Now, there are ways to consult, on routes, portions, ways, said Marchand. Take the example of René-Lévesque, we can consult the first concerned and ask them the scenario they prefer. ”
Mobility in Quebec needs a backbone. When the tram is in place, those who will take it will benefit, but those who do not take it will also benefit. It will improve circulation for them too.
Bruno Marchand, new mayor of Quebec
Quebec 21 has always opposed the tram. But Sunday’s result is final. Stevens Mélançon talks about changing your tone and approach on this issue.
“We don’t have much more to say. We are no longer even the official opposition. They are in favor, he said. At that point, we can do whatever negotiations we want on the tramway… We will keep watch, measure the costs, the impacts for citizens, traders… ”