Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen not seeking re-election

By Cormac Mac Sweeney, Michael Ranger

Less than a week before the new Conservative Party leader is announced, interim leader Candice Bergen has revealed she will not be running in the next federal election.

In a statement posted to Twitter, Bergen says she is proud of her 14-year political career and plans to stay on as MP for the Manitoba riding Portage-Lisgar for the immediate future.

“The past seven months serving as leader of the Opposition has been incredibly gratifying, and rewarding,” reads the statement.

She says she is optimistic about the future of the party and will be fully supporting the new leader that is expected to be announced on Sep, 10.

Bergen took on the interim role after former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole was removed from the position in a vote by his own MPs back in February. She was deputy leader under O’Toole and was one of nine candidates up for consideration for interim leader.

Tuesday at 5 p.m. ET will mark the deadline for ballots to arrive at the Conservative Party headquarters and be counted to elect the new party leader.

Many in the party expect front-runner and the longtime MP Pierre Poilievre to win, but campaign organizers for Jean Charest, the former Quebec premier and Poilievre’s main rival, said they believe they have the points needed to win a narrow victory.


With files from The Canadian Press

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