The leader of Projet Montreal says after three attempts at becoming mayor of Montreal, he will not try again.

"I will not run a fourth time. Enough is enough," said Richard Bergeron.

Bergeron, who came in third place in his third bid to convince Montrealers to make him mayor, said he will sit as a council member, but only until his party selects a new leader.

"I expect that will take 12 to 24 months," said Bergeron, at which point he will leave politics and trigger a byelection.

He said he is proud of Projet Montreal's success, controlling the councils of three boroughs and electing 28 candidates, including 13 women.

"I feel sad, but as the leader of Projet Montreal I feel very proud."

Under Montreal's political system mayoral candidates can name a running mate who runs for a councillor spot.

If the councillor candidate wins and the mayoral candidate loses, the running mate steps aside, and that is how Bergeron will get his seat.

However he said that, no matter how painful it is, he understands that Montrealers will never elect him mayor of their city.

"You know the last two days when I was at home I had to accept this decision of the population," said Bergeron. "It is very difficult to accept. And that's all for me."

Marvin Rotrand, who was an Executive Committee member under Gerald Tremblay and was just re-elected under the Coalition Montreal banner, said Bergeron should serve his full term of office.

“It’s stunning in its egoism, the announcement he made,” said Rotrand. “His decision of today will cost the taxpayers up to half a million dollars for a needless by-election in 12 or 24 months.”

"I invite R. Bergeron to reconsider," wrote Rotrand in a statement. " Voters made him Chef d'opposition. He should stay four years and avoid cost of a byelection."

Mayor-elect Denis Coderre praised Bergeron, even while asking for a recount in the seat he won.

"We don't have the same approach, but there's one thing we can be sure of-- He truly loves this city," said Coderre.

Montreal’s outgoing mayor, Laurent Blanchard, agreed with Coderre.

“He was surely one of the most passionate politicians that we have at city hall,” he said.

Members of Bergeron’s team, have also spoken highly of him.

“I am proud of my chief,” said Francois Croteau, Mayor of Rosemont-la Petite-Patrie. "He has 100% of my confidence today, I'm behind him.”