Former federal cabinet minister and Liberal Member of Parliament Denis Coderre was elected mayor of Canada’s second largest city of Montreal Sunday (November 3).
Coderre was seen as the candidate to beat and had been leading in the public opinion polls. But the long-time politician failed to win an outright majority of the city’s council seats for his Team Coderre.
A relatively unknown non-politician Melanie Joly surprised many coming in second place for the mayoralty with 26 per cent of the popular vote compared to Coderre’s 32 per cent. All Montreal citizens voted for mayor, for borough mayors, as well as councillors for the city and borough.
Veteran progressive municipal politician Richard Bergeron of Projet Montreal came in third in the mayoralty race with less than a per cent behind Joly.
Coderre party’s won 27 of the 65 council seats, which means he will need the cooperation of the other parties. Bergeron’s Project Montreal, with 22 seats now forms the opposition on council.
The election caps a turbulent year after the resignation of Mayor Gerald Tremblay more than a year ago over corruption scandals.
“We are at the crossroads right now,” Coderre told a crowd gathered for his victory party Sunday night.
“I will be the mayor of all Montrealers … I will need them to say that from now, we won’t define Montreal as different territories. We are all Montrealers.”
More information:
Election Montreal official results for mayor – here
Montreal Gazette – Voters put their trust in political veteran – here
CBC News – Montreal mayor-elect Denis Coderre urges unity – here
Globe and Mail – Compromise in Coderre’s future after narrow win in Montreal – here