Projet Montréal leader celebrates election results
Bergeron dismisses concerns vote splitting help re-elect Tremblay
Last Updated: Monday, November 2, 2009 | 6:52 PM ET
CBC News
Dark horse mayoralty candidate Richard Bergeron is dismissing accusations that he split the vote in Sunday’s civic election in Montreal, helping to re-elect incumbent Gérald Tremblay.
Tremblay won with 37.5 per cent of the vote, squeaking past his closest rival in a campaign that was dominated by allegations of corruption and collusion.
Bergeron garnered 25.5 per cent of the mayoralty vote, the best-ever results for his Projet Montréal Party.
Vision Montreal Leader Louise Harel placed second with 32.7 per cent of the vote for mayor and said that she would serve as opposition leader at Montreal city hall.
One of Harel's allies, former Bloc Québécois MP Réal Ménard, blamed Harel's loss and Tremblay's victory on Bergeron and Projet Montréal.
Bergeron refused Harel's invitation to form a coalition, which doomed their challenge against Tremblay, Ménard said.
"If we are not a [united] opposition, we split the vote, we split the opposition, and Mr. Tremblay won for a third mandate," said Ménard, who was elected borough mayor in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve.
But presenting his party’s newly elected councillors and borough mayors Monday, Bergeron said Harel had also refused his party’s invitation to work together.
Harel chose instead to work with Vision Montreal — a party where he said she likely felt it would be easier to raise money.
"Well, she burned her fingers and Gerald Tremblay is mayor of Montreal today," said Bergeron. "I accept no responsibility … it is the population that decided."
At the time city council was dissolved Projet Montréal had only three city councillors including Bergeron.
Bergeron said the fact Projet Montréal now holds 13 seats on council including the mayoralty of two boroughs shows the party "is here to stay."
Bergeron signalled his willingness to work with the Tremblay administration, as long as the mayor "wants to give a new direction" to the city.
"The great hope of Montrealers today is that the third mandate of Gerald Tremblay will be his 'redemption,'" Bergeron said.
Corruption allegations hurt Harel
One of Harel's star candidates, urban planner David Hanna, says corruption allegations helped bring down his leader's bid for city hall.
The admission by Harel's former right-hand man Benoît Labonté, who confessed to accepting a large campaign donation from a construction entrepreneur did not help his party's bid, Hanna said.
"There is no doubt about it, that was devastating," said Hannah, who lost his bid for city councillor in the NDG district.
"When you have got your No. 2 man who has suddenly been found with his fingers in the cookie jar, it just sends shock waves everywhere. It did."
Harel did not speak with the media on Monday.
