2024-01-29 09:32:04
He closed the door to politics with a bang after a second defeat at Montreal town hall against Valérie Plante, in the fall of 2021. If Denis Coderre moved away from political forums for three years, he is today tempted to return through the provincial door and through “the challenge” represented by the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ).
To those who consider him outdated, he clearly answers this: age does not matter and neither does the number of defeats.
While he admits to being polarizing, Denis Coderre emphasizes that the fact that he provokes a lot of debate is healthy.
Before beginning a tour of the regions to feel the pulse of the activists, the former mayor of the city of Montreal returned in an interview to what would distinguish him in a future race for the leadership of the PLQ.
Am I “past date”? I mean, the share of prime ministers who are over 60 […]because you are over 60 years old, do we have to let you down? […] How many people do we have that we could use but then leave behind?
I’ve known people who lost before they won […]. If you want to recover, you have to survive failure. The only way to grow is to face adversity, says the 60-year-old.
Beyond the political setbacks, Denis Coderre suffered a stroke last May and then underwent rehabilitation. A difficult ordeal, he says, admitting that he is a little different today than he was before the illness. This ordeal, he continues, made him evolve.
It was four months ago: I didn’t talk, then I didn’t walk. […] While my grandson was learning to walk, I was learning to walk again.
Several challenges
During Denis Coderre’s interview with THE Behind the scenes of power in an Italian restaurant in his neighborhood, the PLQ membership form is already filled out and buried in his jacket pocket, while his reading of the party’s relaunch report is almost finished.
For Denis Coderre, the PLQ is a great party, and so are its challenges. Among these challenges: re-demonstrate its relevance, be impactful and speak to the regions, he lists.
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Denis Coderre answered questions from journalist Daniel Thibeault on the show “Les Coulisses du Pouvoir”.
Photo : Radio-Canada / David Richard
At the time of writing these lines, Denis Coderre had started a tour of the regions. He will first pass through Centre-du-Québec, where he will address themes such as the role of municipalities and schools.
Asked about what the PLQ needs, the one who was Liberal MP in the federal riding of Bourassa, Minister of Sports, Minister of Immigration and Mayor of Montreal is categorical: the party needs experience and knowledge realities on the ground.
We tried things saying that we [avait] need renewal at all costs […]. It’s not a problem to have learned.
Although he can already count on the support of Christopher Sirois, the president of the Lévis liberal association, Denis Coderre will nevertheless have to convince the liberal caucus and the activists… if he decides to enter the race.
However, before making a decision by the month of June, the main interested party will take the road in May for Spain and Portugal in order to cover on foot, over 300 km, the way of Saint-Jacques-de -Compostella. Question to think about.
The PLQ leadership race will take place in 2025. So far, only the member for the Marguerite-Bourgeoys constituency, Frédéric Beauchemin, has confirmed his interest.
As for the Liberal MP for Louis-Hébert, Joël Lightbound, he indicated in an interview with THE Behind the scenes of power that he doesn’t necessarily want to close the door but that he needs to think about it more carefully before making a decision.
This episode of Behind the scenes of power will be broadcast on Sunday at 11 h on HERE RDI and on HERE TV.
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