MNA for Matane-Matapédia, Pascal Bérubé, is coming to the rescue of the Parti Québécois organization in the riding of Duplessis, on the North Shore, calling on everyone to find a successor to MNA Lorraine Richard.

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The party wants to keep its castle, but the candidates are not jostling at the gates. Pascal Bérubé had the mission to unearth the rare pearl that would allow his party to keep Duplessis.

To achieve this, he will go on a mission to the North Shore in mid-June.

"What I want to do is call on everyone, because we don't have the right candidate yet. Over the airwaves, if anyone is interested in exploring this possibility, I will be in Sept-Îles the week of June 13. People can already contact me privately, via email or social media. We will agree on a meeting which will also be confidential in Sept-Îles. But we are opening very wide, to people who had never thought of it, ”he told TVA Nouvelles.

Lots of work to do

The Parti Québécois has held the riding of Duplessis continuously since 1976. However, the castle was shaken four years ago when incumbent Lorraine Richard obtained a narrow majority of 127 votes.

Actor Mario Saint-Amant, originally from Sept-Îles, thought about running for the PQ. A press conference had also been organized, then canceled a few weeks ago. This possible candidacy is rejected.

In addition to finding a candidate, the party must rebuild its organization in Duplessis. The party executive has been inactive for at least a year. According to Pascal Bérubé, this is explained by a lesser presence of Lorraine Richard because of her state of health and her participation in the Laurent Commission.

"It's a bit normal. But we know that the Parti Québécois is still very strong in Duplessis, it's a great tradition. It's not for nothing that people have recognized themselves in it since 1976, from Denis Perron to today. I know that we have very strong foundations. It's going to be a tough campaign that we're going to have to do. But I'm sure we can win."

In eastern Quebec, in addition to the riding of Duplessis, the PQ is looking for a candidate to represent the party in the riding of Rivière-du-Loup-Témiscouata.

Four candidates are confirmed: Samuel Ouellet in Rimouski, Pascal Bérubé in Matane, Mégane Perry Mélançon in Gaspé and Alexis Deschenes in Bonaventure.

A member is thinking: Martin Ouellet in the riding of René-Lévesque, on the North Shore.