The Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) will not abandon its federalist beliefs because some of its activists have told it it would benefit from greater nationalism. The political formation will continue to boast of Canadian unity and take particular inspiration from Jean Charest, interim Liberal leader Marc Tanguay said on Friday.

“With Jean Charest, we got our share of the loot against Paul Martin when we wanted federal health care transfers,” the LaFontaine representative-elect said in his report at the end of the House session to the National Assembly. “That is a success of a Mr. Charest […], who said: “No, it won’t work like that” and made a statement despite his federalist attitude. »

During the Liberal Party’s general assembly in late May, some activists criticized the current leadership for its cautious support for Quebec nationalism. In an open letter published in The pressActivist Jérôme Turcotte, former chairman of the party’s political commission, had announced that he was putting away his membership card in particular because the formation had “lost its ability to embody Québecitude”.

However, when the current co-chair of the QLP revival committee, Madwa-Nika Cadet, was asked on Friday about the core values ​​driving her party, she named three: the economy, defending the rights of the individual… and federalism.

“The Quebec Liberal Party must regain its ability to transform Canada,” stressed Marc Tanguay.

“We solving our problems is not the big night of Quebec’s partition,” he continued. “It’s within the Canadian federation, a Quebec society, a Quebec nation that has had the opportunity to thrive. Then you have to find this. »

“Find a Liberal Nationalist”

This position of the PLQ was the subject of some taunts from Prime Minister François Legault on Friday. During the traditional welcome at the end of the session in the Blue Room, Prime Minister Marc Tanguay wished that he would use the summer to “find at least one liberal nationalist somewhere in Quebec”.

Then, an hour later, Mr Legault added, sending an arrow to the other co-chair of the Liberal Recovery Committee, former journalist and Senator André Pratte. “We’re going ahead with a very clear plan,” said the elected CAQ when asked about his own balance sheet. “We don’t need André Pratte telling us where to go. »

The Liberal Party has been without a leader since the departure of Dominique Anglade last year. Rules for the party leadership race will not be approved until the autumn, and only a handful of MPs have expressed interest in running. When asked about his starting intentions on Friday, Marc Tanguay reiterated that he hadn’t thought about it.

“I’m not using the interim leader as a stepping stone,” he said. “As I have always said, when the rules are known, I have the opportunity to say whether I go or not. »

Mr. Tanguay claimed he would remain in the post of interim leader “until then”. [qu’il aura] the trust of [ses] Group colleagues and party trust.

To see in the video