Vision Montreal leader Louise Harel described herself as energized and enthusiastic Saturday, after earning a 95 per cent approval rating among her supporters.
The confidence vote was made at a convention confirming her candidacy for mayor, after a tough week that saw three party defections: Rivière-des-Prairies-Pointe-aux-Trembles Mayor Chantal Rouleau and two counsellors moved over to mayoral candidate Denis Coderre’s camp.
Harel said Saturday that’s in the past.
“It was the end of this chapter,” she said.
Despite the high approval rating, the party is more than $500,000 in debt. Political analyst Jean Lapierre said he feels Harel doesn’t cut it as leader.
“They're third in the polls – around 15 per cent of the vote – even after four years of Mme. Harel and her team at city hall so they're not really making inroads,” said Lapierre.
Supporters at the convention said they aren't worried.
“(I support her) for her integrity, her honesty and her willpower to change,” said Vision Montreal member Aileen Royal.
“The vision of Vision Montreal will lead the party to victory,” said volunteer Michele Senegon, “even if some members leave.”
“Some people left, some others arrive. So we are together. We fight for Montrealers’ integrity,” said Vision Montreal councillor Elsie Lefebvre.
The party believes the way of the future is a coalition.
“I believe Mme. Harel has the ability to build a great coalition. We don't believe in the future we will have only executive committee people coming from the same party,” said Real Menard, Vision Montreal borough mayor for Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
The team, however, is short on details.
Both Projet Montreal and Team Coderre have closed the door to that proposal.
