Denis Coderre announces Quebec Liberal leadership run

Former Montreal mayor and federal Liberal cabinet minister Denis Coderre announced that he’s officially running for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal party.

He made the announcement outside the National Assembly in Quebec City on Friday morning, pitching himself as a seasoned politician who can help the party find itself. 

“Dear friends, I would like to announce that I have agreed to run for the next leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party,” said Coderre. “I think we need experienced men and women.”

“I’d like to invite all those who feel pushed aside, all the disappointed Liberals, all the Liberals who stayed home because they were ashamed to vote for other parties, to come back. You’re part of the foundation. I’ve been in politics for 40 years. I’ve always loved this party. I have deep roots in this party, whatever people say. And I think it’s important for us to come together again.”

The 60-year-old says he will run in the riding of Bellechasse on Quebec City’s South Shore – in the next provincial election, which would be in Oct. 2026.

Coderre is the first candidate to officially throw his hat in the ring.

He says the Liberals are the only federalist party in Quebec and that he doesn’t want to keep debating another independence referendum. 

As part of his campaign, Coderre says he plans to visit the province’s 125 ridings to recruit new party members.

Coderre, who lost the last two Montreal mayoral races to Valérie Plante, previously said that there are a lot of people who want him to jump to provincial politics and he was seriously considering the idea.

Coderre suffered a stroke last year, but has said he is in full health and won’t let his past struggles define him.

He represented Montreal’s Bourassa riding as a Member of Parliament (MP) between 1997 and 2013, holding a series of portfolios in federal Liberal governments, including immigration minister.

He was mayor of Montreal between 2013 and 2017.

Other candidates on the horizon?

The Quebec Liberals have struggled to find their footing since Premier François Legault led the Coalition Avenir Québec to power in 2018, and the party Coderre hopes to lead is polling in single digits with francophone voters. 

Frédéric Beauchemin, MP for Marguerite-Bourgeoys, is still considering his candidacy. He is expected to announce his decision in August, according to current reports. He has the support of former Quebec Finance Minister Carlos Leitão.

Last week, Charles Milliard – another prospective candidate for the PLQ leadership – announced that he was stepping down as President and General Manager of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ). At the PLQ General Council last month, 81 Young Liberals gave him their support.

The mayor of Victoriaville, Antoine Tardif, is also being approached. He hasn’t closed the door on the idea.

The name of the federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, continues to circulate as a potential candidate.

The race is scheduled to begin in January 2025. The next Liberal leader will be chosen in the summer of that year.

-With files from The Canadian Press