Denis Coderre predicting another referendum if PQ forms next government

Denis Coderre expects to experience a third referendum on the independence of Quebec.

That’s what the potential candidate for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec suggested at the National Assembly Wednesday.

The former mayor of Montreal launched the “Non merci” anti-independence movement on social media Wednesday. He’s predicting the next provincial election campaign, in 2026, will primarily involve Parti Québécois separatists and Liberal federalists.

Coderre, also a former federal minister, attended question period at the National Assembly, then met representatives of the media.

“The next election (in 2026), it will be the federalist-separatist axis, the Liberals are the only federalist party in Quebec,” he said, possibly intended to court federalists and liberals who had perhaps found refuge in the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) during the last elections.

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He said the rise of the PQ and independence was the reason for his return to politics.

“If you don’t want me to be a candidate, let go of the referendum,” Coderre said.

He cited PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who expressed his firm intention to hold a referendum if he forms the next government.

“I expect there to be one,” predicted Coderre.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews