“Important” to have female candidates for leadership, believes Marc Tanguay

“That would be important. We want and we will have a good race with several candidates,” commented the interim leader of the PLQ, Marc Tanguay, at a press briefing Wednesday morning at the National Assembly.

Mr. Tanguay was specifically responding to a question regarding the absence of women among the potential candidates known so far.

As for other questions about the race, he systematically takes refuge behind his duty of reserve as interim leader.

Three days before the opening of the general council of the PLQ held at Château Bromont, Saturday and Sunday, The Press revealed Wednesday that the current mayor of Victoriaville, Antoine Tardif, is strongly solicited to enter the race for party leadership.

The name of the former goalkeeper of the Voltigeurs de Drummondville and the Remparts de Québec is added to those of four other potential candidates already known.

• Frédéric BeaucheminQuebec Liberal MP for Marguerite-Bourgeoys

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• Karl BlackburnPresident and CEO of the Conseil du patronat du Québec

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• Denis Coderreformer mayor of Montreal and former federal Liberal minister

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• Charles MilliardPresident and CEO of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec

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• Antoine Tardifmayor of Victoriaville

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But no women appear on this list or have raised their hands themselves.

This to succeed Dominique Anglade, who led the PLQ from May 2020 until November 2022.

The first woman to lead the PLQ, a party with more than 150 years of history, Ms. Anglade resigned after very poor results in the general elections.

Tribute to Couillard

Mr. Tanguay himself has already said and reiterated that he would not enter the race for the leadership of his party.

At the general council of Bromont, a tribute will be paid to the former Liberal Prime Minister of Quebec Philippe Couillard (2014 to 2018), Saturday, among others in the presence of the previous Liberal Prime Minister, Jean Charest (2003 to 2012).

The main dates on the race calendar are:

• January 13, 2025: official start of the leadership race
• April 11, 2025: deadline for submitting applications
• April 12 to June 8, 2025: five national debates between the candidates
• June 9, 2025: Member voting period begins, over six days
• June 14, 2025: leadership convention and election of the leader, in Quebec

The main rules for participating in the race are:

• candidates must collect the signatures of 750 members in good standing from at least 70 counties and 12 regions, of whom at least 350 must be new members;
• the amount of deposit required to become a candidate will be $40,000 and the limit on election expenses is set at $400,000.