Léo Bureau-Blouin announces PQ candidacy
Former student movement leader Léo Bureau-Blouin announced his PQ candidacy via his Twitter and Facebook accounts Tuesday evening.
The former president of Quebec's College Student Federation (FECQ), plans to run in Laval-des-Rapides. He updated his Facebook profile, labelling himself as a candidate for that riding.
Bureau-Blouin, 20, is scheduled to hold a press conference Wednesday with Parti Québécoisleader Pauline Marois Wednesday to formally announce his candidacy.
During the height of the student strikes, a poll found that Bureau-Blouin had the highest approval rating of anyone involved, dwarfing Premier Jean Charest.
Charest said the decision is telling of the party's position. "This only associates very clearly Pauline Marois with the extremism of the student movement," he told reporters at the National Assembly.
Junior Finance Minister Alain Paquet holds the Laval-des-Rapides riding, narrowly beating the PQ candidate in the last two elections.
He said he's not intimidated by Bureau-Blouin's high profile. "In the end, the citizens will make the choice not on the presumed 'starness' of someone, but on the true convictions and true values and propositions for the riding," he said.
