Premier Greg Selinger says he prefers a leadership contest in March as it follows the normal process spelled out in his party’s rulebook.
Selinger says the leader of the party must stand for election at every convention.
However, he says he won’t step down as Premier to run in a leadership race.
“This is always been the way it’s been done, leaders have stayed on and done their job, making sure we have a stable government performing for the needs of Manitobans,” says Selinger
In 2009, Selinger, Andrew Swan, and Steve Ashton resigned from their cabinet posts when they ran for the leadership after Gary Doer stepped down.
Five senior ministers in Selinger’s cabinet resigned last week after openly questioning him as leader.
They remain as backbench MLA’s in the government. Selinger says he will let the caucus decide their fate to stay in the party or force them to sit as independents.
