Buoyed by its victory at Verdun, the Bloc dreams of conquests
"It's refreshing for politics!" enthuses Mr. Blanchet, who only last week described his victory in the southwest riding of Montreal as "possible. "
Hochelaga, Rosemont, Longueuil, parts of Outaouais, and possibly a bit of Laval: these are the areas Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet believes are now within reach for his party, following its narrow victory in LaSalle-Émard-Verdun on Tuesday.
"If the Bloc Québécois can convince people in LaSalle-Émard-Verdun, imagine the ridings like Châteauguay or Estrie," Blanchet said during a press conference at his campaign office in Verdun. He suggested this success could inspire voters in other regions to support his party.
In high spirits, Blanchet noted that this new electoral breakthrough might prompt the minority Liberal government to "change strategy." He also pointed to the ridings of Hochelaga and Longueuil — Charles-LeMoyne, currently held by Liberals, and Rosemont — La Petite-Patrie, an NDP stronghold, as potential targets in the next election.
Blanchet was joined by the newly elected Bloc MP for LaSalle-Émard-Verdun, Louis-Philippe Sauvé, who was still emotional after a short night’s rest. Sauvé, a former political employee, described his win as "awesome" and expressed excitement about entering federal Parliament. Blanchet praised Sauvé for his intellectual approach and rigorous door-to-door campaigning, which he credited with securing the victory after an election night that saw both the NDP and the Liberals take the lead at different points.
"It's refreshing for politics!" Blanchet enthused, having previously stated that a win in this southwest Montreal riding was "possible" just a week ago.
Warning for Poilievre
Blanchet assured that the Bloc is ready to repeat this success in a general election, which could be triggered if no party supports Justin Trudeau's minority government. He sees an opportunity for the Bloc to leverage the current political landscape, particularly on issues such as improving pensions for seniors between 65 and 74.
Reflecting on Monday's by-election, where the Bloc garnered 11.6% of the vote, Blanchet emphasized how it provided insight into the Conservatives' performance in the Montreal area. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has been sharply critical of the Bloc, even accusing the party of being in a "radical coalition" with Justin Trudeau's Liberals.
Blanchet responded, "Someone should point out that in three general elections, the Bloc has faced three different Conservative leaders, and each time, the results favored the Bloc. I would suggest adjusting the rhetoric and acknowledging that politics requires some humility."
The Bloc leader was also critical of the NDP, describing its relationship with the Liberal Party as "mutually toxic," referring to the two-year pact between the parties that recently ended. The NDP, which initially saw hope for a win in LaSalle-Émard-Verdun on Monday night, ultimately finished third.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau said he is "reflecting" on his strategy, following the narrow defeat of his candidate, Laura Palestini, in what was once considered a Liberal stronghold.
