Returning from Santiago de Compostela, the former mayor of Montreal Denis Coderre continues the suspense over his candidacy for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ). His decision is made, he says. But it will not be announced for three weeks, i.e. June 21.
Denis Coderre returned Friday from a twenty-day pilgrimage to the Iberian Peninsula, which took him from Portugal to Spain. His plane landed late in the morning at Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau airport in Montreal.
The ex-mayor, who has been repeating for months that he is thinking of running for the leadership of PLQ, had promised an announcement upon his return from his trip. But we will still have to wait, according to the column – his last – that he delivered at the end of the day on the community radio station CKVL.
June is not only the start of summer [et] National Aboriginal Day, but it is also the eve of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste weekend. So the fleur-de-lys does not belong only to the separatists, not only to the PQ. I will announce my final response in Quebec”,”text”:”June 21 is not only the start of summer [et] National Aboriginal Day, but it is also the eve of the Saint-Jean-Baptiste weekend. So the fleur-de-lys does not belong only to the separatists, not only to the PQ. I will announce my final answer in Quebec”}}”>June 21 is not only the start of summer [et] National Aboriginal Day, but it is also the eve of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day weekend, so the fleur-de-lys does not belong only to the separatists, not only to the PQ. I will announce my final response in Quebec
declared the former mayor.
I’m going to be in Quebec on a Friday. It’s not a Saturday, so you have no excuse. Everyone must be there
he added.
Denis Coderre has come a long way. The former mayor of Montreal – who tried in 2021 to return to city hall, which he had led from 2013 to 2017 – announced that he was leaving politics after biting the dust for the second time in in a row against Valérie Plante.
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In 2021, Denis Coderre obtained 37.97% of the votes, compared to 52.14% for Valérie Plante. (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Ivanoh Demers
In April 2023, he also suffered a stroke, from which he now says he has fully recovered, apart from slight speech problems.
Before flying to Europe on May 11, Denis Coderre took his travel card PLQ, of which he was not a member until recently. He also toured the regions to gauge his support.
Mr. Coderre notably went to the Quebec region, where he pledged to run in the event that he entered the race for leadership of the PLQ, whether he is declared the winner or not. A constituency on the South Shore would be in his sights, he has since clarified.
So far, none of the 19 deputies of PLQ did not support him. The main person concerned nevertheless demonstrates unfailing confidence. “I have known people who lost before winning,” he still pleaded in an interview on the show THE corridors of power on January 28.
Mr. Coderre says he wants to return to politics to fight the separatists of the Parti Québécois (PQ), whom polls currently show as favorites for the next general elections, which will take place in the fall of 2026.
He also met the leader of the PQ, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, during a visit to the National Assembly on February 14.
A new boss in a year
The name of the next leader of the PLQ will be announced on June 14, 2025 during the party leadership conference, which will take place in Quebec.
Although no candidate has officially declared themselves so far, several names are circulating.
In addition to Denis Coderre, the MP for Marguerite-Bourgeoys, Frédéric Beauchemin, the mayor of Victoriaville, Antoine Tardif, the president of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce of Quebec, Charles Milliard, and the president of the Employers’ Council, Karl Blackburn, are or would be under consideration.
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The possibility that Charles Milliard will present himself as a candidate for the leadership of the PLQ has sparked ink over the last week. (Archive photo)
Photo: Radio-Canada / Félix Lebel
Some aspirants are even starting to receive support. This is notably the case of Frédéric Beauchemin, the only member of the Liberal caucus to have come forward so far, who has obtained the support of former Minister of Finance Carlos Leitao.
Charles Milliard, for his part, received the support of some 80 young liberals, who took advantage of the last general council of the PLQlast weekend in Bromont, to circulate an open letter praising the qualities of the main person concerned.
