NDP brass to hold emergency meeting after 'misunderstanding' with Selinger
Premier's vow to put leadership to vote confuses party executive
Manitoba's NDP executive said it will hold an emergency meeting after what it called a 'misunderstanding' with Premier Greg Selinger.
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The party brass met with Selinger over the weekend at a regularly scheduled meeting and talked about his future as leader after internal criticism erupted publicly over the last two weeks.
Selinger then told the Winnipeg Free Press others could challenge him for leadership at the party's convention in March.
But party president Ellen Olfert said that is not what they agreed to.
"In terms of putting his name up for election at convention and opening it up to challengers is a little bit more than what I thought had been discussed," she said.
Olfert doesn't think the misunderstanding is indicative of party dysfunction, however.
"I don't think it necessarily means that there's dysfunction I think that it shows a bit of a misunderstanding."
Olfert said at least five members of the executive petitioned on Sunday to have the emergency meeting.
"The purpose of the meeting will be to determine what rules and procedures need to be put in place for a leadership contest," said Olfert.
The meeting will be held next Saturday.
The premier refused to comment to CBC Manitoba Sunday.
Selinger's staff would only say reports that he put his leadership on the line are accurate.