Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says Quebec is not bound by another player's vote in the election for secretary general of the International Organization of La Francophonie.
Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said Quebec may vote independently of Canada in the election for secretary general of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).
St-Pierre Plamondon made the comments in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where he is attending the 20th Francophonie Summit. Member states will elect a secretary general for a four-year term on Monday. Quebec has the right to vote, as do Ottawa and Fredericton.
Four candidates are running: current secretary general Louise Mushikiwabo of Rwanda, Juliana Amato Lumumba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dacian Ciolos of Romania, and Coumba Bâ of Mauritania.
During a press scrum after meeting Mushikiwabo on Saturday, St-Pierre Plamondon declined to say whom he was supporting. "We are not bound by another player's vote," he said, adding that discussions were ongoing among member states.
The topic is expected to come up during St-Pierre Plamondon's first one-on-one meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, scheduled for Sunday. Carney, speaking from the Philippines, said he and St-Pierre Plamondon will be "able to work together."
St-Pierre Plamondon also said Quebec has been a full member of the OIF for over 50 years and called the organization "an example of what the exercise of our sovereignty can look like on the international stage." He announced that a meeting of Francophonie economy ministers will be held in Quebec City in 2027.
The comments signal a more independent approach by Quebec's premier in international forums, while the OIF secretary general election proceeds with four candidates seeking the four-year term.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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