“My wish is to finish my mandate. After that, we cannot assume anything, as it is an extremely difficult job,” admitted Ms. Labrie on the sidelines of an announcement on Friday in Sherbrooke.
Stating that she “[va] well, at the moment” and that she “still loves [son] work”, she committed to completing her mandate as interim female spokesperson for Québec solidaire (QS).
“It’s a tiring job and yes, there are often questions about that,” said the MP.
“One thing that is certain is that I will not compromise my health for my political commitment,” said Ms. Labrie, whose party is currently going through a crisis.
In a thread on X, formerly Twitter, shortly after the announcement, Christine Labrie confirmed that she “feels[t] unable to promise” that she will finish her mandate, reiterating however that this is her wish.
In the race for mayor in 2025?
The member for Sherbrooke also said she was focusing on the major debates that are coming up in the short term at QS, which makes the question about her four-year commitment as an elected official “difficult to answer”.
Does she plan to leave the National Assembly to try her luck in the 2025 municipal elections? “You ask good questions,” she replied, laughing, to journalists.
“We are in the very short term at the moment with the files that I manage. 2025 seems a long way off to me. I can tell you that at the moment I am enjoying being a member of Parliament for Sherbrooke. […] so everything indicates that I will end my mandate for the moment, but I cannot make a commitment,” added Ms. Labrie.
Christine Labrie will end her interim mandate as women’s spokesperson, a position in which she accompanies Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois. (Jean Roy/Archives La Tribune)
Leadership and crisis
Called to comment on the open letter published Thursday in The Pressin which various QS actors attack the orientations of Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, who wishes to see the party take a “pragmatic” turn to become a “party of government”, Christine Labrie reiterated her confidence in her parliamentary leader.
According to her, this is a “healthy” debate for the party. The former candidate in Richmond, Philippe Pagé, who signed the letter, however explained to The gallery Thursday that Mr. Nadeau-Dubois was creating a division among QS activists.
“When the party was created, it was far from the moment when the proximity of power was felt. There are internal mechanisms which complicate things in terms of governance. I see him as an elected official,” explained Ms. Labrie, who however does not judge that Mr. Nadeau-Dubois lacked leadership or is trying to divide his troops between the idealists and the pragmatists.
Remember that the “pragmatic” vision of Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois will pass a first test between May 24 and 26, in Jonquière, while the members of QS will amend and vote on the “Saguenay Declaration”, which lays the foundations of this vision , in national council.
