Alexandre Boulerice is poised to leave the federal New Democratic Party (NDP) to run for Québec Solidaire in the provincial elections, with an announcement expected on Monday. Boulerice, who has been the NDP MP for Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie since 2011 and the last NDP representative in Quebec, has long been rumored to be considering a shift to provincial politics. His departure marks a significant loss for the NDP, which will drop to five seats out of 343 in the House of Commons. Boulerice is anticipated to contest the Montreal riding of Gouin, currently held by Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, who has announced he will not seek re-election. Québec Solidaire, while historically strong in this riding, has seen a decline in recent polling, currently estimated around 10 percent support.
Why It Matters
Boulerice’s transition from federal to provincial politics highlights the challenges faced by the NDP in Quebec, where it has struggled to maintain its influence. The NDP, which once held significant power in the province, now finds itself with only one seat, showing a stark decline from its earlier strength. Québec Solidaire has traditionally been supported in Gouin since 2012, but recent polling indicates a potential struggle in retaining voter support, reflecting a broader trend of fluctuating political allegiances in Quebec. The outcome of the upcoming provincial elections could further reshape the political landscape in the region, especially for parties like Québec Solidaire, which currently holds 11 seats in the National Assembly.
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