Sol Zanetti mulls Québec Solidaire leadership run

Quebec Solidaire MNA Sol Zanetti questions the government, during question period, Thursday, December 8, 2022 at the legislature in Quebec City. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press)

Sol Zanetti announced he is “seriously considering” throwing his name in the hat to be Québec Solidaire’s new co-spokesperson.

But first, the Jean-Lesage MNA wants to consult voters to “make sure our hearts and dreams are aligned,” he said on social media. He created an online form for Quebecers to share what they want from the party.

“Political jousting often kills collective dreams. Those who dare to dream are quickly denigrated by the crows of so-called ‘realism.’ Their opponents try to devalue them by suggesting that their proposals are impossible. We must never give in to these,” Zanetti wrote.

Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, the party’s previous male co-spokesperson, stepped down as party leader in March and said he would leave politics at the end of his mandate because he felt “worn down.” Guillaume Cliche-Rivard has been serving as interim co-spokesperson with Ruba Ghazal as parliamentary leader.

Zanetti said he hopes to be able to mobilize the party outside the National Assembly, meeting constituents where they are. He said he is motivated to counter right-wing ideas, which are gaining popularity in Quebec and elsewhere.

He listed climate change and inequality as top issues to tackle.

“The power of the left-wing parties in Quebec is rooted in the social struggles waged throughout the territory, rather than in the mired political system bequeathed to us by our colonial history,” said Zanetti.