This news was first reported by the daily newspaper THE Duty.

According to our sources, this candidacy is not the only one being considered by the Secretary General of La Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo. The federal government has reportedly proposed another person for the position, but her name has not yet been released.

Caroline St-Hilaire, candidate for the Québec Coalition avenir (CAQ) in the Sherbrooke race last October, was defeated by her Québec solidaire opponent Christine Labrie, who was re-elected for a second term.

The government of Quebec has been asked by the federal government to contribute to the process aimed at expanding the position of administrator of theOIF. Ottawa is responsible for submitting a list of candidates to the International Organization of FrancophonieMartine Biron, Quebec’s Minister of International Relations, told Radio-Canada.

The Secretary General of La Francophonie is currently analyzing the proposed candidates and has the prerogative to choose its administrator. This process is confidentialsaid Mrs. Biron.

The position of administrator ofOIFwho serves as number two in the organization has been vacant since the surprise departure of Quebecer Geoffroi Montpetit, revealed by the show Investigation a month ago that raised questions in Quebec and Ottawa. The former chief of staff at the Federal Ministry for International Development is the second Canadian to leave the Federal Ministry after Catherine Cano in October 2020OIF before his term expires in just over two years.

On February 23, the communications director of theOIFOria Vande Weghe, who is also Ms Mushikiwabo’s spokesperson, had indicated that the choice of Mr Montpetit’s successor or successors had not yet been decided.

It’s therefore impossible to know if it will be Canadian or Quebecois, as dictated by the unwritten agreement between Canada and France in 2018, when Ottawa had agreed to join Paris to make its decision, the Rwandan to support Louise Mushikiwabo. suddenly dropped Michaëlle Jean, then General Secretary.

Canada suffered a setback in October 2018 during the Francophonie Summit in Yerevan. Michaëlle Jean had tried to get a second mandate at the head of the organization, but the members of theOIF Ms. Mushikiwabo had preferred.

The manager ofOIF has the main task of carrying out, directing and administering multilateral intergovernmental cooperation as well as ensuring the administration of administrative and financial affairs under the supervision of the Secretary-Generalwe can read on the website of theOIF.

I’OIF brings together 88 states and governments representing nearly 300 million French speakers around the world.

With information from Sebastian Bovet