Pablo Rodriguez says he is “comfortable” with the suspense: Quebec Liberal leadership

Justin Trudeau’s political lieutenant for Quebec and federal transport minister, Pablo Rodriguez, says he still hasn’t decided whether he will run for the leadership of the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP).

He says he comfortable letting the suspense linger as he rubs shoulders with his colleagues during a three-day federal cabinet retreat.

“I’m very comfortable. I’m very comfortable,” he insisted to reporters in Halifax on Monday about being caught between choices with Quebec.

When asked why he was taking so long to decide, Rodriguez explained that he did not intend to repeat himself and had nothing to announce at the moment.

“You know me. You know me very well. I am always very direct. I come to you. I like to see you. I never hide. And I come to you when I have things to say,” he said.

He was also asked whether he was waiting until after the by-election in LaSalle-Émard-Verdun, a stronghold that the federal Liberals can’t afford to lose, to announce his decision to bow out.

“I want to salute our candidate in LaSalle-Émard-Verdun who is truly excellent. (…) I had the chance to accompany her door-to-door, a person who is really in touch with the realities on the ground, who is close to her people, who understands local issues,” said Rodriguez.

However, a source within the QLP told The Canadian Press that people in Rodriguez’s entourage were making efforts behind the scenes with a view to a possible leadership bid and that it would be very surprising if the federal minister did not take the plunge.

Questioned earlier in the morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that “Pablo will make his own decisions.”

“But what does it say about the state of the troops that a powerful minister has his foot in the door and is seriously considering bowing out? It doesn’t say much about anyone,” said Trudeau. “Everybody’s going to make their own choice.”

The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, François-Philippe Champagne, whose name had been circulating behind the scenes for several months in the QLP, confirmed that he had ruled out running for the leadership.

He reiterated that “it takes strong voices from Quebec in Ottawa to move Quebec forward and move the entire country forward.”

Two candidates confirmed

For the moment, only the former mayor of Montreal, Denis Coderre, and the former president of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ), Charles Milliard, have officially made the jump to succeed Dominique Anglade.

Two weeks ago, Milliard told The Canadian Press that Justin Trudeau’s team had approached him to run in the by-election in LaSalle-Émard-Verdun. He said he “considered” and then “refused” the offer to focus on the provincial Liberal leadership race.

The mayor of Victoriaville, Antoine Tardif, is also being asked to run for the Liberal leadership and he has not ruled out running.

QLP MNA for Marguerite-Bourgeoys Frédéric Beauchemin continues to say that he is thinking about it but will make his move soon.

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

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews