The race for leadership of the CAQ party in Quebec is heating up as Minister Simon Jolin-Barrette gains more support from his colleagues. Former Minister of Agriculture, André Lamontagne, and Member of Parliament for Saint-Jean, Louis Lemieux, have recently endorsed Jolin-Barrette’s potential candidacy.
While not officially declaring his candidacy yet, Jolin-Barrette has garnered praise from his supporters. Lamontagne described him as a dedicated leader and reformer, urging him to enter the race. Similarly, Lemieux expressed his trust and respect for Jolin-Barrette, encouraging him to pursue the party leadership.
With these new endorsements, Jolin-Barrette now has the backing of seven colleagues, setting the stage for a competitive leadership contest. Other potential candidates in the race include Ministers Christine Fréchette and Bernard Drainville, as well as Minister of Natural Resources Jean-François Simard.
The competition is intensifying as Drainville recently secured endorsements from Minister Delegate for the Economy, Samuel Poulin, and Member of Parliament, Kariane Bourassa. Fréchette, on the other hand, has garnered support from several elected officials, including prominent ministers within the party.
As the anticipation builds, the official rules of the leadership race are set to be disclosed soon. One key requirement for candidates will be the necessity for a minister to resign from their current position to pursue the leadership role.
