Lessard-Therrien’s criticism: Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois wants to move on

Targeted by renewed criticism from former co-spokesperson of Québec solidaire Émilise Lessard-Therrien a few days after announcing his departure, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois chose to remain circumspect, stating that he had no intention of “fueling these issues” in the future.

“I think internal bickering is bad for all political parties,” Nadeau-Dubois said at a press briefing Wednesday, his first day back in the National Assembly since his paternity leave.

“No more guts on the table”

In an article published Wednesday morning in the “Journal de Montréal,” Lessard-Therrien asserted that Nadeau-Dubois’s “new strategic posture” has “sneakily taken hold since the change in the main leadership with Manon (Massé, the former spokesperson).”

“A posture that has smoothed over anything that might have raised eyebrows. Who traded organic for control. Movement for calculation. Vision for prudence,” she wrote.

According to the former QS spokesperson, “this strategy brought no notable gains in 2022 and, worse, it severely demobilized the troops, who never regained their momentum.”

Lessard-Therrien believes that QS needs “fewer ironed shirts and more guts on the table.”

“We need to ditch the artistic direction of Instagram videos and recreate real connections in the streets (and the ranks!),” she added.

“Salute the successes”

“I’m gone, so I think there’s no point in continuing,” added Nadeau-Dubois in response to his former colleague’s letter. “I have no intention of fueling these questions, neither today nor in the coming year.”

As for the QS’s future direction, Nadeau-Dubois said he didn’t want to play “stage manager.”

Solidarity MP Alexandre Leduc made no secret of his irritation with Lessard-Therrien’s statement.

“When someone announces they’re leaving the National Assembly, I think that regardless of the party, regardless of what we thought of that person, regardless of the clashes we may have had with that person, we should take a step back, rise above the fray, and acknowledge the successes,” he said, adding that he was still speaking with the former spokesperson.

“Worn Out”

“Worn out” by the numerous crises that have shaken his party recently, Nadeau-Dubois announced his resignation as spokesperson and parliamentary leader of the QS last week. He will complete his term as MNA for Gouin, but will not seek reelection in the next election.

Nadeau-Dubois has made no secret of the fact that the resistance of solidarity activists to adopting positions that resonate more with the population has sapped his enthusiasm as a politician.

The last two years have been difficult for the left-wing party, particularly with the release of former MNA Catherine Dorion’s hard-hitting book and the resignation of Lessard-Therrien just months after being elected party spokesperson. Both women criticized Nadeau-Dubois’ leadership.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews