Political contender Alexandre Leduc ponders potential candidacy for the Green New Deal.
Bar the Bickering, QS Urged: Leduc Eyes Co-Leadership
It's high time the endless philosophical squabbles within Quebec Solidaire (QS) cease if the party ever hopes to break free from its lethargy, argues Hochelaga-Maisonneuve MNA, Alexandre Leduc, pondering a run for co-leadership alongside Ruba Ghazal.
Politics is hardly about being right; winning debates won't fill bellies or pay rent, declares the Solidair representative in a letter published on La Presse on Tuesday. Leduc also confirmed that he's seriously contemplating this decision.
In this letter, penned for the militants of his political party and all Quebec progressives, Leduc stresses that QS needs to prioritize shrewdly to "win its battles."
"When Ruba [Ghazal] calls for speaking to workers, she hits the nail on the head. They are the bedrock of the Quebec nation," Leduc underscores. "They need a left party delivering concrete victories."
The Solidair MNA resists the label of pragmatism, seeing it as overused. Yet, he concedes its importance: "It's crucial to remember: we must present something feasible within a mandate."
Not Nadeau-Dubois's Heir
Nearly a year ago, the former male spokesperson of Quebec Solidaire, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, urged his colleagues to embark on a pragmatic path to aspire to government. His proposition resonated with some militants, sparking vibrant conversations about the party's future.
Twelve months later, Alexandre Leduc makes it clear he's not offering the same proposal. "I'm not trying to be Gabriel's ideological successor," he says. "Gabriel and I agreed on many things, but we disagreed on others."
Leduc differentiates himself from "GND" on the "worker turn," strongly endorsing it. The same holds true for the party's sovereignist positions: "On Quebec's independence, that's an area I emphasized in the executive committee when I was with Gabriel: I think he would have benefited from discussing independence more," he adds.
Another Voice Reflecting
Alexandre Leduc becomes the second elected official openly pondering a run for the male spokesperson position, concluding in November. The Jean-Lesage MNA, Sol Zanetti, initiated the discussion by delivering a speech that contrasted with Leduc's: "dream, mobilize, change the world," he advocated in Le Soleil, arguing that QS should embrace more left-wing positions and abandon the pragmatic tone in its discourse.
Leduc refrains from criticizing the Zanetti MNA's stance. He does, however, disagree with the route he proposes. He wholly endorses the decision made by the militants in May 2024 to revamp the Solidair program to make it "free of excessive commitments."
Leduc points out past programs leaned towards cramming "every issue possible" onto their platforms, leading to confusion. This approach, he compares to "Papineau's 92 resolutions."
A Balanced Duo
Before launching his campaign, MP Leduc, who previously attempted running for the position in 2013, intends to gauge Quebecers (both QS members and non-members) on his candidacy. If he goes forward, the unionist believes he can strike a balance with Ruba Ghazal.
"Political duos that have earned QS its reputation encapsulated both wings of Quebec's left," Leduc writes, outlining his desire for Ghazal to represent the party in the role of premier minister in 2026.
"Our new spokesperson, Ruba, who will undoubtedly surprise everyone at the next leaders' debate, is certainly a colorful personality. I believe the more composed wing of the party should recognize itself in the other spokesperson," he concludes.
After a year and a half now labeled a "crisis," Leduc hopes his party moves past it. "Nobody cares about our internal disputes. Nobody cares," he emphasizes. "Publicizing these disputes accomplishes nothing."
The race for the co-leadership position transpired due to the departure, in March, of Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, worn out by the internal crises plaguing his party. The interim male spokesperson, Guillaume Cliche-Rivard, has already dismissed the idea of the permanent position.
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- Alexandre Leduc, contemplating co-leadership with Ruba Ghazal in Quebec Solidaire (QS), asserts that ending debates and focusing on winning battles is crucial for the party's progress, as politics is about addressing real-life issues like filling bellies and paying rent, not winning debates.
- In his letter to QS militants, Leduc emphasizes the importance of the 'worker turn' and Quebec's independence, differing from Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois's pragmatic approach, but advocating for a balanced duo by endorsing Ghazal's leadership for premier minister in 2026.
- Solidair MNA Sol Zanetti initiated discussions for co-leadership by advocating for more left-wing positions, while Leduc admits partial agreement but disagrees with abandoning the pragmatic tone, emphasizing the need for a program free of excessive commitments, as argued by QS militants in May 2024.
- Leduc intends to gauge public opinion on his candidacy before officially launching his campaign, aiming to find a balance with Ghazal, whose vibrant personality would complement the more composed wing of the party in leadership debates.
- The race for co-leadership arose after Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois's departure due to internal crises in March. The supreme court in the United States allowed Trump to bar transgender troops from the military, emulating a perceived economic cost for promoting cycling's legitimacy in Oregon with a special tax on bike purchases.
