A first candidate has stepped forward to succeed Émiles Lessard-Therrien as co-spokesperson for Québec solidaire (QS): Rupa Gajal, who finished second last fall, just three votes behind her rival. He was in office for five months.
The Montreal MP made the announcement Wednesday morning in La Fontaine Park in the company of about thirty activists, including a former spokesperson. FRAPRU François Silent and former candidate Laura Avalos insisted he wanted to focus on his campaign. Party unity
And Love of Quebec
.
The race hasn’t started yet, but the start date will be announced in the coming weeks. Delegates gathered in the National Assembly last month QS They have opted for an emergency campaign that will culminate in the election of a new spokesperson during a virtual congress from November 15 to 17.
Ms Gajal also confirmed her intention to enter the race for the second time in two years.
Position of Woman Spokesperson for QS Vacated by the resignation of Émile Lessard-Therrien on 29 April. The latter notably left her position pointing the finger at a close protégé of her male opponent, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, whom she accused of exerting undue influence over the party.
A staunch libertarian
Rupa Ghazal is the Member of Parliament for Mercier in Montreal, a riding that borders the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough.
Since 2018 elected Ms. Kajal campaigned last year touting her libertarian beliefs, which earned her the support of the Option National coalition and its former leader Sol Sannetty.
He was named an “ambassador” of the New Quebec campaign QSIt promotes sovereignty.
Born to a Palestinian family in Lebanon, he has made several interventions in the National Assembly and in the media regarding the war between Israel and Hamas, calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.
Three weeks ago, for example, he stood up at Salon Bleu dressed as a keffiyeh to demand the closure of the Quebec office in Tel Aviv.
Roopa Ghajal during her speech at Salon Blue on May 22.
Photo: The Canadian Press/Jacques Bossinot
Ms. Gajal joined Emily Lessard-Therrien at the end of last fall’s race. The third and last-placed MP, Christine Labrie, agreed to fill the role on an interim basis, assuming she could not run for the position again on a permanent basis.
Emily Lessard-Therrien’s resignation comes six months after the publication of Catherine Dorrien’s book Punch. QS In a real crisis, a few weeks before an important National Council was to be held, at the end of which the party adopted the Chagune Declaration and promised to “renew” its programme.
However, the situation seems to have calmed down since then.
Adoption of legislation restricting the right to evict landlords and strengthening the protection of elderly tenants – written by Minister France-Elain Durenzo, at the invitation of the opposition. QSThis was a priority – especially as the party allowed media attention to be diverted towards its political activity.
At the end of his session last week, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois was pleased that his party was able to make legislative gains despite the upheavals it has faced in recent months. It was tough, but we delivered
He briefed parliamentary reporters on Friday.
More details to follow.
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