Would a merged opposition have a shot at taking on Denis Coderre?

It's still 13 months away, but Montreal's opposition parties are already preparing for the challengeof taking on Denis Coderre in the next municipal election.

A merger between Projet Montral and Vrai Changement wouldn't shift the balance of power at city hall, but it would mean a united front againstDenis Coderre in November 2017.

Projet Montral has been without a leader since its founder, Richard Bergeron, joined the city's executive committee in 2014, while thefounder of Vrai Changement, Mlanie Joly,jumped to the federal Liberalsafter the municipal vote.

Both sides have confirmed talks are underway, and Ricochet Media reported earlier this week that a merger could be imminent.

Broadening Projet's appeal

While Vrai Changement is considerably smaller than Projet Montralboth in terms of members and number of seats, joining forces with the third party would broadenProjetMontral'sreach.

It would also allowJustine McIntyre, a councillor in Pierrefonds-Roxboro and Vrai Changement'scurrentleader, to run for the leadershipof ProjetMontrala prospect welcomed by members of the party.

Despite having its strongest showing in the last election, Projet Montralremains largely concentrated in urban areas such asthe PlateauMont-RoyalandRosemont, where its focus on public transitand urban planning resonates with residents.

Theleadership race has so far generated little interest, with councillorsFranois LimogesandValrie Planteamong thosedeclaringtheirintention to run.

Neither is well known.

• A primer onProjetMontral'sleadership race

Montreal'smunicipal elections tend to centre around the party leader, and DenisCoderreis a high-profile and popular figure.

'People vote for the devil they know'

JimmyZoubris, a longtimeProjetMontralmember, acknowledged the party faces an uphill battle.

"One of the reasons we're having the race a year [before the vote]is we think the leader could use the timeto meet with groupsinthe community," he said in an interview.

"Sometimes people vote for the devil they know."

• Will Montreal's 375th celebrations cement Coderre's legacy or be his undoing?

Since his election in 2013,Coderrehas launcheda number ofwell-received initiativesincluding a plan to reinvigorate the downtown, make things easier for businesses and install apermanentanti-corruption czar.

One of his greatest strengths has been Coderre'sunbending optimism in his work as an ambassador for the city, whether it be in trying to bring back theExposor inmakingconnections in China.

"Be proud. Be proud because Montreal is back, and we are witnessing that we are relevant again," Coderre told CBC Montreal's Daybreak after a year in power.

Coderrehas also brought politicalopponents into the fold: Bergeron, as well asCoalition Montral'sRal Mnard, Russell CopemanandElsie Lefebvre.

His predecessors didn't set the bar high.

Two mayors in two years, Grald Tremblay and Michael Applebaum, stepped downamid allegations of corruption before LaurentBlanchard briefly took over as interim mayor.

Lately, though, Coderre's penchant for acting quickly and decisively has gotten him into trouble most recentlywith the pit bull bylaw, which could be in the courts for months after a legal challenge from the SPCA.

His ambitious plans for the 375th anniversary have also been hampered by delays and cost overruns.

"He promised a lot of things. I think he got off to a flying start, we have to give him that," Zoubris said.

"But you're looking at things now, and city hallis basicallyCoderreand the opposition."

• Pit bull bylaw points to Coderre's tendency to act first, deal with fallout later