Verdun MNA Alejandra Zaga Mendez becomes QS whip

MONTREAL – Québec solidaire (QS) has announced a new whip. It is the MNA for Verdun, Alejandra Zaga Mendez, who will assume the role of whip of the second opposition group in the National Assembly, on Thursday.

Mendez succeeds Ruba Ghazal, who gave up her seat after announcing on May 21 that she is running for the position of co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire. Ghazal said she wanted to “devote herself fully to the race”.

The 45-year-old MNA for Mercier is the first candidate officially in the running to succeed Manon Massé as co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire.

During the announcement on Sunday while being interviewed by The Canadian Press, Ghazal promised to make Quebec independence a priority.

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Ruba Ghazal said she had thought long and hard about what she could propose to activists to move her party forward. She concluded that independence, language and culture should be at the heart of her political action.

Among the other names that are circulating for a possible candidacy, there is that of the MNA for Sherbrooke Christine Labrie, who is still under consideration.

The former MNA for Rouyn-Noranda_Témiscamingue, Émilise Lessard-Therrien, is also a prospective candidate in the race for the position of female spokesperson for QS.

The campaign will officially last 13 weeks. Candidates must collect 500 signatures from members in good standing from six regions and 20 different ridings. Debates are scheduled during this period.

The convention that will elect the QS spokespersons will take place from November 24 to 26. It is during this weekend that Manon Massé will step down as co-spokesperson. It is expected that Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois will remain in his position.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 24, 2023.