Alan DeSousa announces bid for Stphane Dion's old seat

The mayor of Montreal's Saint-Laurent borough, AlanDeSousa, confirmedhiscandidacy for the federal Liberal party nomination in Saint-Laurent.

He officially announced his candidacy at a news conference Friday afternoon inthe riding.

DeSousastressed his deep understanding of theSaint-Laurent riding, noting he has been in politics there for 27 years.

"It's serious and it's grassroots-based, with people in the community,"DeSousasaid of his campaign ata news conference Friday afternoon.

The Saint-Laurent seat was vacated when veteran MP and former foreign affairs ministerStphaneDionleft politics toacceptthe position ofambassadorto the European Unionand Germany.

DeSousa said the sudden vacancy is the reason why is he turning towards federal politics.

"We have an opening here in Saint-Laurent," he said. "This is not something I sought. This is just something that happened."

2 other candidates?

DeSousa is not the only one vying for the seat in the Liberal stronghold.

Radio-Canada sources have confirmedformer provincial immigration ministerYolandeJameswill announce hercandidacyshortly.

Last week, James hadreportedlybeen approached by the federal Liberal Party to run in an eventualbyelection.

A lesser known candidate, tax law professorMarwahRizqy, announced her candidacy last week on Twitter.

Rizqyhas run for the federal Liberal Party before, in 2015 in Hochelaga. She lost by 500 votes to New Democratic Party candidateMarjolaine Boutin-Sweet.

Abyelection in Saint-Laurentis expected in the coming months but a date has not yet been set.