Plateau-Mont-Royal borough mayor enters race to succeed Montreal Mayor Valerie Plante

Plateau-Mont-Royal borough mayor and executive committee chair Luc Rabouin announced on Thursday that he would run to succeed Valerie Plante as the leader of Projet Montreal.

The Montreal mayor announced in October that she would not seek a third term as mayor.

Rabouin entered politics in 2019 and said that his focus remains on the ecological transition and fighting the housing and homelessness crises.

“My four priorities are clear: the ecological transition, the housing crisis, the development of the east, and a rigorous and efficient administration,” he said in a Facebook post.

Political commentator Justine McIntyre said Rabouin entering the race is no surprise.

"He had already expressed his interest in running," she said. "He is, of course, president of the executive committee of the City of Montreal. So somebody that we often see in the media. He speaks on a number of issues. so very, very strong, public presence."

Plante’s successor will be chosen in March 2025.

• IN PHOTOS: Montreal's first female mayor Valerie Plante will not seek reelection

Former Projet Montreal president Guedwig Bernier announced that he would also be entering the race for leader, and several others have said they were mulling the possibility.

Rabouin easily won in the 2019 (67 per cent of the votes) and 2021 (75 per cent) elections.

“Over the past five years, I have gained a fine understanding of the municipal apparatus through my responsibilities to the executive committee and the borough hall,” said Rabouin. “I humbly believe that the people of Montreal, in the current context of economic uncertainties and multiple crises, needs a reassuring, pragmatic person, recognized for their mastery of records, their ability to make decisions, listening and collecting while remaining clearly aligned with deep progressive, ecological values and feminists. I'm not a flamboyant person, but people know they can count on me, I've got the ability to put idea to action and solve problems creatively and purposefully.”