Bergeron joins former rival, will run as part of Equipe Denis Coderre

Montreal mayor Denis Coderre shakes hands with Richard Bergeron (Nov. 18, 2014)

Projet Montreal founder Richard Bergeron will be joining his one-time rival as he announced on Sunday that he will be running as part of Equipe Denis Coderre in next year’s municipal election.

Bergeron left Projet Montreal in 2014. Though he has sat as an independent since then, Bergeron did join Coderre’s Executive Committee with a portfolio overseeing the development of the downtown core.

The party is currently in the midst of a leadership race and has been led in an interim capacity by Luc Ferrandez since Bergeron’s departure.

In the 2013 election, Bergeron came third in mayoral voting behind Coderre and now-Federal cabinet minister Melanie Joly.