Plamondon says he’s not concerned Pablo Rodriguez possibly leading PLQ

Parti Québécois (PQ) leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says he’s not worried by former federal minister Pablo Rodriguez possibly taking over the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ).

However, he warned his party about a potential fear campaign by federalists.  

Polls suggest Rodriguez is currently the most popular candidate to lead the provincial liberals.

Plamondon spoke before 500 people at the PQ national council on Sunday in Victoriaville and warned his supporters about future attacks on sovereignty.

“The federalists will seek to sow fear,” he said. “They are the agents of a system, they are the agents of a regime, this regime has been in place for more than 150 years, and they will do everything to maintain their individual achievements and the status quo of this regime. While we tell the truth on all subjects, while we dare to tell the truth that’s sometimes disturbing; they will try to stick all the labels on us.”

He assured that he was ” not nervous at all” about the possibility of a PLQ led by Rodriguez, but he’s rather “confident,” because “what we think is based on facts,” while the PLQ is looking for “a personality and relevance.”

The PQ leader said that the PLQ candidates have “baggage,” including “a lack of consideration for the democratic will of Quebecers,” and their “statements are incompatible with francophones.”

He said he’s not focused on the outcomes and wants to focus on other things.

The most recent Léger poll commissioned by Quebecor and published last week places the PQ ahead at 35 per cent in voting intentions, followed by the CAQ at 21 per cent, the PLQ at 17 per cent, QS at 13 per cent and the PCQ at 12 per cent.

In October, another Léger poll suggested that a PLQ led by Rodriguez would garner 28 per cent support and the PQ would sit at 26 per cent. 

A ‘winnable’ area

The PQ held its national council in Victoriaville, notably for a strategic reason; it would be ahead in voting intentions in the Arthabaska riding, according to a poll it commissioned if a by-election were called now.

“Arthabaska is winnable,” said Plamondon on Sunday morning at a press briefing.

Since a by-election could be underway the coming months, former CAQ MNA Éric Lefebvre, is sitting as an independent after announcing his intention to be a candidate in the federal elections for the Conservative Party.

So, if a federal election were to take place, Lefebvre would resign and the Arthabaska seat would become available, and for the first time since 1998, the PQ could win this riding.

This is what a Segma telephone survey commissioned by the PQ that was carried out between Oct. 28 and Nov. 6 which was obtained by The Canadian Press, suggests.

The PQ would collect 30 per cent of the vote, followed by the Conservative Party of Quebec at 26 per cent, and the Coalition Avenir Québec at 23 per cent — and yet, the CAQ had easily won the riding in 2022 with almost 52 per cent of the vote. Québec solidaire (QS) would obtain 11 per cent of the vote and the Liberal Party (PLQ) seven per cent.

“We are aware that this is not a given,” said Plamondon. “But for us, if it ever happens, there is no effort that we will spare. If there is a by-election in Arthabaska, we know that this requires work, but it would be quite an accomplishment, quite a source of pride.”

“This is not unrelated to our presence in Victoriaville, to show the seriousness of our approach,” said PQ MNA Pascal Bérubé, in an interview with The Canadian Press. “We are not taking anything for granted, but we have significant progress that will be verified. We are heading towards a two-way fight with the Conservative Party,” he said, noting the CAQ’s 29 per cent drop compared to the 2022 elections.

“It went from a very safe county for the CAQ to a county where a three-way race could be played out, it remains tight,” stated Segma’s general manager, Marc Bouchard, in a telephone interview.

“This confirms the national trend a little,” where the PQ has gained momentum and would be leading in voting intentions in ridings with a French-speaking majority, Bouchard added.

The PQ has also been cited as the second choice by 20 per cent of voters, again ahead of the CAQ at 16 per cent and 12 per cent for QS. A third of voters preferred not to answer this question or not to give any choice.

In a complementary election, the participation rate is lower and older voters, who generally vote more, have a disproportionate weight because younger voters turn out less to vote. This could benefit the PQ and the CAQ, chosen by older voters, while the PCQ dominates among 18–29-year-olds at 38 per cent followed by QS at 33 per cent.

“It’s not a done deal for the PQ, but it’s a good position to be in,” said Bouchard.

The survey was conducted among 350 voters in the Arthabaska riding. Its maximum margin of error is 5.2 per cent.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews