Duhaime still holds the front position despite experiencing a disadvantage in Arthabaska-L'Érable
PCQ Leader Eric Duhaime Suffers Another Defeat in Arthabaska-L'Érable By-election
Eric Duhaime, the leader of the Quebec Conservative Party (PCQ), has suffered another defeat in the Arthabaska-L'Érable by-election. The Parti Québécois candidate, Alex Boissonneault, clinched the victory with 46% of the vote.
Boissonneault's win marks a significant shift in the political landscape of the riding, as the PCQ made substantial progress from its 2% share in the 2018 election, rising to 35% on August 11, 2022. However, it was not enough to secure a victory for Duhaime.
During the election campaign, Duhaime had stated that he would run in the general election in the riding if he was elected. However, when asked about his intentions to run again in the 2026 general election, Duhaime was vague in his press conference. He has indicated that a decision about his participation will be made in the coming weeks.
Duhaime has not announced his intentions for the 2026 general election in the Arthabaska riding. In the past, he has stated that a party making progress typically doesn't have the strongest desire to change its discourse. It seems that Duhaime has no plans to change his approach or soften his rhetoric or platform.
This defeat is the second personal setback for Duhaime since taking the helm of the PCQ. Earlier this year, he lost the Chauveau riding during the 2022 general election. Duhaime has scheduled a post-mortem meeting with the volunteers of the Arthabaska by-election campaign to discuss the reasons behind the loss.
It is worth noting that non-Parti Québécois voters may have voted for the PQ candidate to prevent the PCQ from winning. This trend suggests that the PCQ's hardline stance on issues like sovereignty and immigration may not be resonating with a significant portion of the electorate.
The Arthabaska-L'Érable by-election was won by Sébastien Lachance, who will represent the Parti Québécois in the riding. As the PCQ leader, Duhaime will need to regroup and strategize for the 2026 general election if he hopes to turn the tide and secure a victory for his party.
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