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denis coderre seriously considering a run for quebec liberal leadership
"in life, you have two choices: watch the parade go by or hop into it," the former mayor of montreal said wednesday.
jan 10 2024
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quebec — former federal cabinet minister and montreal mayor denis coderre has confirmed he is interested in running for the leadership of the quebec liberals.
“am i thinking about it? yes,” coderre said in an interview wednesday on radio station ckvl-fm, where he works as an analyst. “is it serious? yes. do i have qualities and faults? don’t worry, i know the difference between the song of the mermaids singing and reality.
“am i controversial? you bet. am i known? i am still looking for the five per cent (of people) who don’t know me.”
coderre, 60, said that over the last few weeks he has been talking with liberals and ordinary quebecers, asking them three specific questions: whether they see him as a future premier, if they think he has the credibility and experience to do the job, and if they think he still has something to give.
“i can say for 98 per cent, it’s yes all the way,” he said.
coderre said he crossed one major hurdle monday when his doctors informed him he has recovered from a mild stroke that sidelined him in april 2023 — he had to relearn how to walk and speak — and is once again fit for duty.
that means he might make a run for the job left vacant with the resignation of dominique anglade in november 2022 after the party’s poor showing in the last general election. coderre said he would make a final decision about running in may and, in the meantime, wants to get himself back in shape by walking .
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he ran through what he said were his good qualities, including the ability to build bridges between anglophones and francophones and a deep knowledge of quebec’s municipal scene, as well as the regions of quebec.
coderre said he has been watching a 10-part radio-canada documentary on the life of former liberal premier robert bourassa, a man who rebuilt his political career after a defeat. coderre’s defeat came at the hands of valérie plante , who replaced him as mayor of montreal, a job he held from 2013 to 2017. he ran against plante again in 2021, losing to the incumbent.
coderre said that in his mind, a good liberal leader is neither a separatist, a socialist nor from the extreme left. what’s important is having the right person as leader at the right time, he said.
“one, i am not a separatist,” coderre said. “secondly, i am certainly not a socialist. i am a radical centrist, which means my heart is (to the) left and wallet to the right. i believe in wealth, but if we want to share it, we have to create it.”
candid, coderre recognized he made mistakes in his past political life.
“have i changed? no, i won’t change,” he said. “but i don’t make the same mistake twice. once you’ve burned your hand on the stove once, you get it.”
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as for his age, coderre noted other older politicians such as u.s. president joe biden, who is 81, have shown it can be done.
“i’m fed up with ageism,” he said. “i think we need experience. you can’t buy that. it has to be acquired. but in life, you have two choices: watch the parade go by or hop into it.”
coderre was not specific on what he plans to do to get the liberals back on their feet. the party, which forms the official opposition in the national assembly, has a total of 19 seats. it is polling at about five per cent among francophone voters.
so far, the only candidate who has expressed interest in the leadership job is marguerite-bourgeoys mna frédéric beauchemin .
coderre considered running the last time the job opened up, but in the end did not because of a lack of support. it is unclear how many would back him this time.
coderre was a federal mp from 1997 to 2013. he currently works as a consultant and sports analyst for ckvl.
the next leader of the quebec liberals will be chosen in 2025.
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