Quebec Liberal Party will not choose next leader until 2025

The next leader of the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) will not be chosen until 2025.

The information, first reported by the Journal de Québec, was confirmed to The Canadian Press by Liberal sources.

"I can't confirm anything at this stage," said party spokeswoman Millene Berube Comtois.

She indicated all the rules would be shared Sunday morning at the QLP general council meeting this weekend in Drummondville.

Internally, some were hoping that a late run would give time for outside candidates to enter the race.

Two weeks ago, Radio-Canada reported that the vast majority of elected Liberals wanted the race to take place in 2025.

Frédéric Beauchemin, MNA for Marguerite-Bourgeoys -- the only one to have expressed an interest in running for the leadership -- advocated for an earlier race in 2024.

However, Beauchemin was removed from the Liberal caucus last week in the wake of a psychological harassment complaint lodged by the president of the party's youth wing, Élyse Moisan.

Beauchemin intends to attend despite his exclusion from the caucus, insisting he has done nothing wrong.

Federal Liberal MP Joël Lightbound has not closed the door on a leadership bid.

Interim leader Marc Tanguay, as well as MNAs Monsef Derraji, Marwah Rizqy and André Fortin, have all said they wouldn't run.

The party has been without a leader since Dominique Anglade resigned last November following the QLP's debacle in the October general election.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Oct. 13, 2023.