The Liberals are working behind the scenes to recruit candidates for the leadership race to prevent a Denis Coderre coronation.
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Party leaders are working hard to seduce pretenders to the liberal throne. The former mayor of Montreal has not yet confirmed that he will run for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ), but his recent public appearance has convinced many to join the war effort. Even former elected officials, according to our information, are going out of their way to recruit the rare gem.
Certain positions taken by Denis Coderre on crucial issues give old liberals goosebumps.
In an interview with our parliamentary office last week, the former federal minister explained that the ban on religious symbols for certain state employees, including among teachers, was not a problem for him and that he would renew the federal charter's protective exemption clause in the State Secularism Act from court cases. For many liberals, this is effectively a crime of lese majeste.
Mayor Marchand
Some continue to dream that Federal Minister François Philippe Champagne will make the leap into provincial politics, or that Sophie Brochu or Desjardins big boss Guy Cormier will be tempted by the leadership race.
But other candidacies are also making the PLQ's gray eminences boil. Mayor Bruno Marchand is among them. There would have been informal approaches to number one in Quebec City. Some see him as a leading candidate outside of Montreal. But it goes further back.
“I can confirm that the mayor’s mindset has not changed since the last time the door was closed. His only mandate is to be mayor of Quebec City,” his press secretary said.
Charles Milliard requested
Many liberals want the profile of a leader capable of running against the PQ's Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and the solidarity-based Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois in the next elections.
The name of former minister Luc Fortin is in circulation. Some would also like to see Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec (FCCQ) CEO Charles Milliard join in on the adventure. According to our sources, the 44-year-old entrepreneur, who campaigned for the Young Liberals, is in good demand.
“I am grateful to people from many walks of life who spark my interest in political adventures. For now, I continue to be very happy with my role at FCCQ and proud of what I have achieved there,” he commented on Tuesday.
The President and CEO of the Employers Council, Karl Blackburn, also has supporters among liberal activists. The former MP for Roberval and ex-president of the PLQ was contacted by our parliamentary office and assured that he appreciated his current role.
“I have no interest in going to the chiefdom. I have done a lot in politics and at the moment I am really happy where I am and I am not looking elsewhere,” he argued.
The election of the new chairman of the PLQ is planned for spring 2025.
Frédéric Beauchemin is the only Liberal MP who has shown interest in running for the leadership.
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