Taking full responsibility for Projet Montréal’s resounding loss, leader Luc Rabouin announced Sunday he’s leaving municipal politics after facing “a very strong wind of change.”

Speaking shortly before 11 p.m., Rabouin said he still believes in Projet’s vision for Montreal but accepts that voters felt differently after the party’s two mandates at city hall.

“Politics is hard, often heartbreaking. But in the end, it’s the population that decides  —  that’s democracy,” Rabouin told supporters gathered at a downtown event hall.

Rabouin said he spoke to Ensemble Montréal’s Soraya Martinez Ferrada before addressing the crowd, and made a point to congratulate her in his speech as well.

“Even though she and I do not share the same vision for the city, I would like to acknowledge that her vic

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