The head of Projet Montréal, Valérie Plante, is more motivated than ever to obtain a second term. She had gathered her team at the Soda club on Wednesday evening to launch her re-election campaign for mayor of Montreal.
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“It’s a time that is intense, but so stimulating. I am very motivated and I have confidence in the future, ”exclaimed Ms. Plante.
It was in front of galvanized troops, made up of about 150 people, both activists and party candidates, that the outgoing mayor and candidate for her own re-election appeared on stage.
Beforehand, the full team of party candidates for the 103 available positions was presented. This notably includes 61 women and 47 people from diverse backgrounds.
As at the start of the municipal campaign, last Friday, part of Ms. Plante’s speech attacked her opponent, Denis Coderre.
“We are building a Montreal that we want to bequeath to our children, unlike our opponent who does not really have a vision for the metropolis. You cannot govern a city by changing your mind the way you change your shirt, ”Ms. Plante said.
“His nonsense would be funny if they were not as worrying,” added Pierre Lessard-Blais, party candidate for mayor of Mercier – Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
Ms. Plante also recalled the main achievements of her administration, particularly in terms of housing and transport.
“Frankly, there is something to be very proud of about our first term,” Ms. Plante also exclaimed.
However, she has not commented on her commitments for the next electoral campaign, which will be unveiled in due course.
At Projet Montréal’s annual convention last April, party activists adopted proposals in the party’s electoral program that had caused much ink to flow, including the idea of disarming part of the police and reform the financing of the SPVM. However, Ms. Plante has since distanced herself from these commitments.
Since Friday, the municipal electoral campaign is officially launched, the signs having made their return in the streets of the metropolis.
In 2017, Ms. Plante won the mayor of Montreal with 51% of the vote, against 46% for her opponent, and outgoing mayor, Denis Coderre.
Four years later, in reversed roles, the two are now neck and neck, according to a poll conducted by the firm Léger for Le Devoir, which gives them respectively 36% and 37% of the voting intentions.
The municipal elections will take place on November 7.
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