Chased from the Island of Montreal in the last election, the Parti Québécois (PQ) will pull out all the stops to get back there via the east end of Montreal, where leader Paul-St-Pierre Plamondon has chosen to launch his campaign under the sign of “Cinderella”.
“We will be the Cinderella team of the tournament. […] The team that goes further than anything planned,” said Mr. Plamondon in a speech on the Promenade Bellerive in the east of the island.
Given last in the polls, he says that “the only thing we are sure of is that the polls will move”.
“This campaign will focus on a weakened French and a weakened security,” he also argued in reference to the situation in Montreal before stressing how the East of the Island had been “often neglected” by governments. .
The PQ leader had chosen to launch his campaign in the riding where he personally wants to be elected. The newly named Camille-Laurin – formerly Bourget – was in the fold of the PQ before the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) dislodged her in 2018.
“The Cinderella Team”
The current deputy, Richard Campeau, then won by a meager 500 votes over the PQ Maka Kotto.
When asked who the “Prince Charming” of the “Cinderella team” is, Paul St-Pierre-Plamondon replied that it was “independence, French, environment. All the questions that are important to us”.
Originally, it was the historian Frédéric Bastien who was to wear the colors of the party in the sector in 2022. However, this candidate defeated during the leadership race had agreed to give way to the leader, Paul Saint-Pierre -Plamondon to increase his chances of entering Parliament.
The PQ caravan is due to go to Joliette this afternoon, where it wants to keep the seat, despite the departure of star MP Véronique Hivon. Another Veronique—Venne—is trying to succeed her.
Further details will follow.