Parti Quebecois cabinet minister Marie Malavoy Thursday confirmed she won’t be running again.
Malavoy, a teacher by trade, is the minister of education, sport and leisure.
According to political analyst Jean Lapierre, the party wanted to push her out and they finally succeeded.
At a news conference, Malavoy said she is stepping aside so the party can present a new candidate in her riding.
Malavoy represents the South Shore riding of Taillon, which she has held since a 2006 byelection.
“I leave with the feeling of having accomplished my duty,” she said.
Malavoy did not say who the new candidate would be, but said they will be female.
She first entered politics in 1994, representing a Sherbrooke riding, until she had to step down when it was discovered that she had voted in the 1980 referendum, as well as federal and provincial elections, before becoming a Canadian citizen.
Malavoy was most recently involved in presenting the PQ’s plan to increase the focus on nationalism in Quebec history classes.
Lapierre said the PQ “has to find a star candidate” to replace Malavoy.
Premier Pauline Marois and Rene Levesque have both represented the riding.
