The party launched its leadership race in mid-October and was supposed to unveil its new leader at a convention in February.
Looking to give potential candidates more time to come forward, Montreal’s official opposition party, Ensemble Montréal, has decided to push back its leadership race.
“Since the unveiling of the race rules last September and the announcement of Valérie Plante’s departure, many personalities from various backgrounds have expressed their interest in this major position,” Ensemble Montréal president Carmine Pollice wrote in a statement.
“However,” Pollice added, “it appeared difficult for them to commit immediately, for both personal and professional reasons — a factor to which Ensemble Montréal is sensitive.”
This is the first leadership race the party has held in its short history. It was created in 2013 and was originally known as Équipe Denis Coderre. Coderre led the party when he won the mayoral race in 2013.
It was renamed Ensemble Montréal in 2017 after Coderre was defeated by Plante and left the party.
Aside from Coderre, the party has had interim leaders, including Lionel Perez and the current leader, Aref Salem.
The party said Friday it’s looking for candidates to come forward “in a context where major issues are shaking up our metropolis and its citizens.”
Municipal elections in Montreal take place next year.