Quebeçois activist Sol Zanetti officially joins Quebec Solidaire party, taking on role as co-spokesperson.
Quebec Solidaire braces for internal race to fill co-spokesperson position
Following the resignation of co-spokesperson Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois in March, Quebec Solidaire (QS) is gearing up for an internal race to fill the vacant male co-spokesperson position, as at least three members have expressed their intent to run for the position. As of late May, Étienne Grandmont, MP for Taschereau, has officially declared his candidacy, while Sol Zanetti, MP for Jean-Lesage, and Alexandre Leduc, MP for Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, are being considered as potential contenders for the position.
Grandmont made his announcement at a press briefing in his constituency on May 23, stating that it was crucial for Quebec Solidaire to confront the rise of the political right by prioritizing environmental and social issues. His platform centers on defending Quebec’s social and environmental gains, proposing bold new solutions for the problems Quebecers face, and balancing immediate concerns like the cost of living with long-term issues such as climate change. He has already gained support from party members, including Laurier-Dorion MP Andrés Fontecilla and former candidate Caroline Thibault.
On the other hand, Zanetti and Leduc have not yet officially declared their candidacies, although they have been reported as considering entering the race. Zanetti stated on Thursday that he is preparing in earnest but is not ready to make an "official announcement." Leduc has decided not to run, citing the need for a "candidacy outside of Montreal." The desire of Solidarity members to elect a spokesperson "outside of Montreal" was a significant factor in his withdrawal.
Currently, Ruba Ghazal serves as the co-spokesperson and MNA for Mercier, having taken on the role in November 2024. The official rules and timeline for the race will be set at the party’s national council on June 7 and 8, 2025. No other official candidates have been formally announced for the male co-spokesperson position as of this writing. The race for the female co-spokesperson position is not part of the current contested race.
Quebec Solidaire requires one male and one female co-spokesperson. If Zanetti decides not to run, it remains to be seen who will challenge Grandmont for the position. The party's membership will ultimately decide the winner at a members' congress on November 9, 2025. The race for the male co-spokesperson position is heating up, with crucial discussions about the future of Quebec Solidaire unfolding behind the scenes.
- Echoing Grandmont's stance, the French-speaking political party, Quebec Solidaire, seeks to address the surge of political right-wing ideologies by prioritizing environmental and social issues, as these concerns are extensively covered in general news and politics.
- Although Etienne Grandmont, Sol Zanetti, and Alexandre Leduc have not publicly discussed their positions on war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, or crime-and-justice, their platforms promise to confront immediate concerns like the cost of living and long-term issues such as climate change, as migration, accidents, and fires are potential topics to be addressed in their proposed solutions.
- Despite Alexandre Leduc withdrawing from consideration due to a desire for a candidacy outside of Montreal, there is still a race to compete with Grandmont for the male co-spokesperson position within Quebec Solidaire, since parties like Quebec Solidaire often craft policies that touch upon multiple societal sectors, including car-accidents and transportation laws.
- If Sol Zanetti does not throw his hat into the ring and run for the male co-spokesperson position, there may be further discussion and internal debates within Quebec Solidaire regarding potential candidates who can lead with a balanced approach to addressing concerns such as migration, crime-and-justice, and fires, aswell as tackling the cost of living and climate change.
- The upcoming race for the male co-spokesperson position within Quebec Solidaire represents a significant moment in politics, not just for the party's future, but also for the Quebecois community at large, as the selected candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping policy-and-legislation to address pertinent societal issues.
