Quebec Liberal Party to kick off leadership race [Video]

It’s an understatement to say that the Quebec Liberal Party (PLQ) is in bad shape right now: the results of the last election were the worst in its history. Its support among Francophones is diminishing and the Parti Québécois (PQ) is rocketing to the top of the polls and promising a referendum in its first mandate.

Be that as it may, the Liberals are betting that their next leadership race — which will officially begin this month — will enable their party to regain its place on the Quebec political scene.

And in any case, it would be presumptuous to consider the oldest party in the history of Quebec to be dead. The party has faced many challenges in its 150 years of existence.

From domination to marginalization

In the early 20th century, the provincial Liberals dominated the Quebec political scene, holding power for almost 40 consecutive years, from 1897 to 1936.

During this …