PLQ leadership race: Frédéric Beauchemin endorses Pablo Rodriguez

Quebec Liberal MNA Frédéric Beauchemin, who declared in the fall that he would enter the race for the leadership of the province’s Liberal Party (PLQ), will instead offer his support to Pablo Rodriguez.

According to two sources familiar with the situation, Beauchemin will announce that he is endorsing Justin Trudeau’s former political lieutenant in Quebec. A press conference is scheduled for Monday morning in Quebec City, the official start of the PLQ leadership race.

One of the sources The Canadian Press spoke to, who works in Rodriguez’s organization, pointed out that this announcement allows the former federal minister to “start the campaign with a bang,” as Beauchemin is “the first candidate to endorse another candidate.”

The role that Beauchemin, MNA for Marguerite-Bourgeoys, will play in Rodriguez’s campaign is expected to be clarified on Monday.

“Pablo is really the only one who can rally both long-time and next-generation Liberals,” said the second source, who worked on Beauchemin’s team.

When Beauchemin, former director and head of capital markets at Scotiabank, announced his candidacy in the fall, he was endorsed by former Quebec Finance Minister Carlos Leitão and sought to position himself as the candidate of fiscal rigor and better management of public finances.

On the sidelines of the PLQ convention held in Lévis two months ago, he criticized the man he now supports for having been part of a government, Trudeau’s, that ran record deficits.

“He was part of a government that spent like sailors on the run,” Beauchemin said. He was reacting to Rodriguez’s comments that “we have to find a balance between sound management of public finances and being there for

Society.”

The next leader of the PLQ will be chosen at the leadership convention to be held in Quebec City on June 14, 2025.

In addition to Rodriguez, the other aspiring leaders are former president and general manager of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, Charles Milliard, former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre and tax lawyer Marc Bélanger.

Milliard is also scheduled to hold a press conference on Monday morning, at which he plans to announce “a major new endorsement.”

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews