Photo: Spencer Colby The Canadian Press The MP for Sherbrooke, Christine Labrie
Québec solidaire (QS) will choose the official successor to Émilise Lessard-Therrien “by the fall”. In the meantime, it is the member for Sherbrooke, Christine Labrie, who will take over as interim, during a period that she describes as “crucial” for her party.
Three days after the departure of Ms. Lessard-Therrien as female co-spokesperson, QS management therefore set its sights on Ms. Labrie on Thursday so that she would occupy this position until the next internal election. By accepting this role, the elected representative withdraws from any participation in a possible race.
“This decision aims to ensure a fair and open process for all our members aspiring to this responsibility. The terms and timetable for the race for the position of female spokesperson will be determined soon,” the political party indicated in a press release issued during the afternoon.
Speaking to the media for the first time as interim female spokesperson, Ms. Labrie confirmed that she would not be in the role for long. The race to succeed Émilise Lessard-Therrien “will take place between now and the fall,” she said. “The wish we have, as an organization, is to replace Émilise […] fairly quickly. »
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Christine Labrie, who is in her second term as an MP, was the party's parliamentary leader in the National Assembly before the 2022 general elections. She then finished third in the race to succeed Manon Massé last year. Ms. Lessard-Therrien and MP Ruba Ghazal then beat her after a close vote.
The Estrienne elected official does not wish to participate in another race, hence her decision to accept the interim position. “Among the things that I put forward during the race in the last year, several […] are found in particular in the list of proposals of the National Council [of May]. I felt that my ideas had already started to make headway within the party. Besides, it was difficult, that race [last fall],” she said.
Officially lasting three months , this race was in fact spread over five months, starting from the last National Council of Manon Massé as spokesperson.
“Period of upheaval”
Québec solidaire found itself without a female co-spokesperson since Émilise Lessard-Therrien slammed the door on Monday, citing issues of centralization around Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois.
On Thursday, Ms. Labrie agreed that the party was going through a “period of upheaval.” His mandate will therefore consist of emerging with “good results”. “There are very serious questions that arise following the circumstances of Emilise’s departure. We want to make adequate assessments, we want to make the necessary changes,” she said, while promising to consult the members during this “crucial” interim period.
“I feel that Québec solidaire is at a turning point in its history, and that our ability to get through this critical period will be decisive for the future. I want to participate in ensuring that we achieve the solidarity project,” she added in the press release released by her party.
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois confirmed on Wednesday that he wanted to stay in office, while calling on solidarity activists to make QS a “government party”.
Thursday, on the social network X, he welcomed the arrival of Ms. Labrie at his side. “Christine represents the best in Quebec politics. She is very well equipped to face the challenges our party is facing at the moment. This is excellent news for Québec solidaire… and for Quebec! » he wrote.
The interim solidarity co-spokesperson will not benefit from “any financial supplement” during her short mandate. “The National Assembly pays me a deputy’s salary. It also pays to compensate for my travel to Quebec. Then if I have to travel elsewhere, they are at my expense,” she said.