‘Disgusted’: Denis Coderre drops out of Quebec Liberal leadership race

In a long message on social media, in which he quotes Nelson Mandela, former Montreal mayor Denis Coderre says that there would have been no Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) leadership race without him – as he announces he will not appeal the decision of the PLQ rejecting his candidacy. In the same breath, he claims to have been “the victim of leaks” and that “the dice were loaded in advance.”

“The word ‘disgusted’ by the situation is an understatement…” he wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday night.

Last week, the PLQ announced that it had rejected Coderre’s candidacy. He had five days to appeal. 

Before that, the former Montreal mayor’s candidacy had been in limbo for some time. The party had indicated that the politician had not yet submitted all the documents necessary to make his candidacy official. These were documents related to his tax situation, according to information from The Canadian Press.

Media outlets reported in recent months that Coderre owed more than $130,000 in taxes at the provincial level. Added to this was a debt of more than $266,000 to the Canada Revenue Agency.

However, Coderre still maintains that he submitted all the necessary documents. “Our transparency in this matter is impeccable and this simply shows that the dice were loaded from the start,” he says. 

“For those who still doubt it, not only a) ALL amounts owed to the tax authorities are secure and guaranteed b) Revenu Québec will be prosecuted,” adds Coderre. 

The other candidates in the race are former federal minister Pablo Rodriguez, former CEO of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce Charles Milliard, tax lawyer Marc Bélanger and Beauce farmer Mario Roy.

The election of the new Liberal leader will take place at a convention to be held on June 14.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews