Media apologize after declaring wrong winner in 'cruel' Quebec City mayoral race
CTV
Marie-Josee Savard was declared the new mayor of Quebec City by two news outlets, and even gave a victory speech, before it turned out the real winner was Bruno Marchand. Lessons were learned, said one of the outlets.
Marie-Josée Savard, a Quebec City mayoral candidate who had the blessing of popular outgoing mayor Régis Labeaume, also made a victory speech -- after her win was declared by some media -- before having the moment yanked away.
"Mayor for two hours," read some headlines in French-language media on Monday, trying to retrace how things could go so wrong.
"I'm feeling for her this morning," wrote radio personality Daniel Brouillette of 96.9 CKOI on Facebook, even calling it likely "traumatic" for her.
"Experiencing a defeat is already difficult... I hope the media companies that push themselves to be the first to declare victory on election nights take note of this."