Jean-Marc Fournier, announced his withdrawal from political life

File Photo, Simon Clark
Jean-Marc Fournier

Marc-André Gagnon

Monday, 5 march 2018, 12:12

UPDATE
Monday, march 5, 2018 14:44

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After a few months of suspense, the government house leader and minister responsible for Relations with canadian, Jean-Marc Fournier, announced Monday afternoon his withdrawal from political life.

“I believe that the lap is done. The loop is closed,” said the member of parliament for Saint-Laurent, at a press conference at the national Assembly.

“If we want new faces [in politics], although there are some who leave”, he explained.

“Honestly, the polls have not much to see there”, he assured.

“I do not flee, I am confident that we will win the next elections”, he added.

Mr. Fournier intends to complete his mandate until the next election. “For now I rest, but I won’t go back”, he warned.

But as he did in 2008, in 2012 and 2014, Mr. Fournier will embark on the bus of his political formation during the next election campaign, to work for the re-election of Philippe Couillard to the post of prime minister.

“This will be my fourth campaign, on the bus,” said Mr. Fournier.

A second prime starting

The one who has touched a first start bonus of $ 145,000, withdrawing a first time of the life policy, in 2008, confirms that he will take once more the transition allowance to which he is entitled.

“It’s part of our working conditions,” said Mr. Fournier, noting that other deputies pq members who have recently announced their departure will do the same.

The weight of the case Francoeur

Splashed last fall by allegations launched by the union leader Yves Francœur, Mr. Fournier was said in reflection on his political future.

According to a source, Mr. Fournier has well and truly been shaken by this story, especially family and friends, who have not appreciated. Remember that the investigators came to the conclusion that the allegations launched by the trade unionist were unfounded.

Last week, it is the minister of Justice, Stéphanie Vallée, who announced his departure from political life at the end of the current mandate.

Nearly 25 years of political

Jean-Marc Fournier has been elected for the first time in September 1994. The electors of the county of Chateauguay were also subsequently re-elected three times. Mr. Fournier has left the policy for the first time in 2008. His departure, however, was of short duration. In August 2010, at the request of Jean Charest, Mr. Fournier returned to the political arena as minister of Justice, in the wake of the departure of Jacques Dupuis. He was back a month later on the benches of the blue Room after a by-election in Saint-Laurent. It was then re-elected in 2012, then in 2014.

More details to come…