Activists fascinated by former La Presse editor André Pratte’s work within the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) are calling on him to be in the leadership race in 2025, to the point where the most important interest party is thinking about taking the plunge. Le Devoir learned.
According to our information, Mr Pratte is now considering running for the post of leader of the PLQ, encouraged by positive comments from activists about his work in revitalizing the party.
“He thinks he told me that,” activist Ronald Poupart confirmed to Le Devoir. “He said, ‘Ronald, I’ve never thought about this option before, but because of the people calling me, I have to think about it.’ »
However, publicly, Mr Pratte reiterates that he “has no intention of running for the leadership of the PLQ”. “I am of course flattered by the comments of the activists, but my situation has not changed,” he wrote, notably on the social network X.
Just two weeks ago, before presenting his report on the renewal of the PLQ, Mr Pratte had made it clear to Le Devoir that he did not want to be in the race.
But privately, the former senator wants the vision of Quebec liberalism put forward by the Committee to Revitalize the PLQ – a committee of which he co-chaired – to be highlighted during the leadership race. In order to further the committee’s ideas, among other things, Mr. Pratte is actually considering running for office, we have learned from a reliable source.
The idea excited Mr. Poupart, who has been an activist in the PLQ since 1959. “I will do everything I can to convince him to be a candidate. This is the kind of person we need in a party because we need a vision for the future,” he said. “I’m not choosing to support it at the moment,” the Liberal then clarified.
“Improve” the quality of the race
Germain Chevarie, Liberal MP for Îles-de-la-Madeleine from 2008 to 2012 and 2014 to 2018, is one of those who addressed Mr Pratte during the party’s general meeting in Drummondville. “I think Mr. Pratte has qualities that would certainly make him a good candidate. He is an excellent communicator, he could do very well,” he told Le Devoir.
Mr Chevarie made it clear that he was not taking a position in favor of Mr Pratte. In his opinion, the ex-journalist could “by submitting his candidacy increase the quality of the leadership competition and even encourage other people to do so.”
His parliamentary inexperience does not scare him. ” See [le chef du Parti québécois]Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, he had no experience in the National Assembly and I think overall he is doing a good job,” he explained.
“Mr Pratte still enjoys good credibility in Quebec and the PLQ,” noted Mr Chevarie. He also “experienced the political aspect” by serving as a senator in Ottawa from 2016 to 2019. Above all, his report on the revival of the PLQ delivered the result of “serious, rigorous and relevant work”, emphasized the former Madelinot MP. “I would say that too [un travail] “Avant-garde with recommendations that I think may be of interest to Quebecers, including on the Constitution of Quebec and also on the abolition of the Senate to transform it into a provincial chamber,” he continued.
So far, only MP Frédéric Beauchemin has expressed interest in the PLQ top election campaign. Rep. Monsef Derraji, who recused himself, said he could ultimately be a candidate for the office if not enough candidates apply. His colleagues André Fortin and Marwah Rizqy announced that they would not take part in the race. Federal Minister François-Philippe Champagne and current Quebec Mayor Bruno Marchand did the same.