A Radio X journalist has been selected as the Parti Québécois candidate for the Charlevoix–Côte-de-Beaupré riding, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from municipal leaders in the region. The nomination was announced on Friday, August 21, 2026, and immediately prompted the mayor of La Malbaie to denounce the choice as a calculated electoral strategy by the party.
The mayor of La Malbaie expressed concern that the party was using the journalist's media profile to gain an advantage at the polls, describing the candidacy as a political maneuver rather than a genuine effort to represent local interests. This assessment reflects broader worries among local officials about the increasing practice of recruiting high‑profile media figures for political office.
Adding to the controversy, the former mayor of Saint‑Siméon announced that he will not cast a vote for the Parti Québécois for the first time in his political career. He cited a personal decision to withhold support, underscoring the growing unease among some municipal figures regarding the party's candidate selection process.
The Parti Québécois has not offered further comment on the criticism, but the episode highlights the tension between provincial party tactics and the expectations of local leaders. As the election campaign in Charlevoix–Côte-de-Beaupré unfolds, the reactions of La Malbaie's mayor and Saint‑Siméon's former mayor may influence voter sentiment in a riding that has historically been attentive to both provincial and municipal dynamics.