PQ MNA Léger won’t run for re-election: sources
Veteran Parti Québécois politician Nicole Léger will not run for re-election this year.
Léger, the MNA for the Montreal riding of Pointe-aux-Trembles, is to make the announcement at a news conference in her riding Tuesday after informing her riding executive Monday evening, sources confirmed.
Her decision followed a meeting of leader Jean-François Lisée and top PQ brass Monday. They were huddled in a meeting all day to look at options for the struggling party.
First elected in a 1996 byelection, Léger is the party Treasury Board critic.
In 2015, Léger battled tongue cancer and recovered. But her decision does not appear to be health-related. It comes as the PQ is languishing in third place in public opinion polls with no sign of recovery in the short term.
It is unclear whether Léger is leaving or was pushed as the PQ tries to renew itself before Oct. 1.
Her Pointe-aux-Trembles riding is one of the few left on the island of Montreal still considered safe given the rise of Québec solidaire. Lisée needs a safe riding to woo any star candidate for the election.
There were also several reports Monday that PQ MNA François Gendron will announce in February he will not seek another term. The 73-year-old is the longestserving MNA at 42 years.
Bertrand MNA Claude Cousineau is also said to be ready to call it quits.