Partial election in Arthabaska: the real battle begins

Conservative leader Éric Duhaime accuses the Prime Minister of "trivializing" the by-election in Arthabaska by calling it during Quebecers' summer vacation.

Hostilities had already been underway for several weeks, but this time it's official: the by-election in the riding of Arthabaska has been called, and the candidates have thrown in the towel.

The Legault government announced the election at a special cabinet meeting on Tuesday. The vote will take place on August 11, during the summer season.

"We've been waiting for this for a long time," said Éric Duhaime. The Conservative leader, who is putting his political future at stake, maintains that the Prime Minister "wants to diminish the impact of the by-election" by calling it during Quebecers' vacation.

"We have the impression, once again, that François Legault is putting potentially partisan interests before democracy, before ensuring that the turnout is as high as possible," he added, convinced that he can mobilize the Conservative electorate. "It's clear that he wants to trivialize the Arthabaska election."

However, time was beginning to run out for the Prime Minister. The resignation of CAQ member Éric Lefebvre, four months ago, requires François Legault to act now if he wants to free himself of this burden before the parliamentary session and the cabinet reshuffle scheduled for the fall.

Big stakes

With this by-election, all parties are at stake. The Prime Minister could lose a CAQ stronghold a year before the general election. Éric Duhaime, for his part, is betting his future at the head of the Conservatives.

"I have confidence. If I didn't have the deep conviction that I would win this election, I wouldn't be here today," he said, stressing that a victory would allow the Conservatives to enter the National Assembly.

If defeated, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon's Parti Québécois could lose the momentum it has gained in recent months. The PQ is also fielding star candidate Alex Boissonneault. This by-election could also serve as a gauge of the Pablo Rodriguez effect for the Liberals, who still lack a candidate.

Other political parties will react later today.

More details to come.