Achi news desk-
Victoria Mayor Antoine Tardif has addressed rumors in recent days that he may run for the leadership of the Liberal Party of Quebec (PLQ).
While attending the Union des Municipalités du Québec (UMQ) conference in Montreal on Thursday, Tardif said he is “not closing the door to entering politics at another level,” but for now, “all my energies and all my head are completely dedicated” to the city of Victoriaville.
“I was very flattered to read the reactions yesterday of some influential liberals who saw me running for leadership,” he told reporters, adding that in “politics, you can’t say no, so it’s not no. But today, I want to tell you that I’m going to run again But today I can tell you that I’m not there yet.”
The 34-year-old mayor, a former hockey goaltender, drew a sports analogy to explain how he perceives the rumors about him.
“I feel a little bit like when I was playing in the Quebec Junior Hockey League. When the trade period comes, there are a lot of rumors about trades, but as long as nothing moves, you go back to the arena and put on your city’s uniform and right now, the uniform I’m wearing is a Victoria uniform “, said the mayor.
Acadie-Bathurst Titans first-round pick Antoine Tardif flaunts his jersey as team owner Leo-Guy Morissette looks on at the QMJHL draft Saturday, June 10, 2006 in Charlottetown, PEI (Remy Senchel, The Canadian Press)
There is no official candidate in the race yet, although several names are floating around.
The leadership race begins on January 13, 2025. The next leader of the PLQ will be elected in June of that year.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 23, 2024.
