Richard Bergeron, founder of Projet Montréal, joins Denis Coderre's team
Former political foes come together ahead of 2017 municipal election
A year ahead of the next municipal election, Richard Bergeron, the founder of Projet Montréal, has officially joined the mayor's political party, Équipe Denis Coderre.
Bergeron had been sitting as an independent since 2014, when he joined Coderre's executive committee.
The mayor made the announcement following a party meeting on Sunday, calling his one-time political foe a man of "big ideas."
"Clearly, I'd like to have a guy on my side like Richard Bergeron," he told reporters.
For his part, Bergeron said the city has made impressive strides under Coderre.
"I'm convinced that now Montreal is very well-seen internationally," he said, adding that Coderre is a "great leader."
Bergeron was Projet's mayoral candidate in the 2005, 2009 and 2013 municipal elections.
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Coderre has been trying to consolidate his team ahead of the Nov. 5, 2017 election.
Russell Copeman, borough mayor of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, also recently joined his party.
Copeman had previously been a member of Coalition Montréal, although he's been a member of Coderre's executive committee since his election in 2013.
Équipe Denis Coderre now counts 32 seats on city council. Projet Montréal has 17 and Coalition Montréal has four.