This is called a clear will.
According to this new Léger poll, PQ and Solidarity voters want their parties to put their rivalry in the dressing room and start talking to each other again.
Only 19% of those who show solidarity want to continue their journey alone.
In the PQ, only a quarter of voters don’t want to hear anything from QS.
The tide has shifted: while we could feel in 2017 that it was the PQ that first wanted to approach QS, today there is more solidarity than PQ members who want an alliance.
An alliance? A merger? Regardless, it’s about two out of three voters – PQ or Solidarity – who want it. Clear majority!
And most importantly, the result would blur CAQ dominance. It is she who would suffer the most in this scenario. Parti Québécois and solidarity support would solidify while suddenly creating a contingent of indecisive politicians.
The survey is clear: a rapprochement would radically change the political landscape.
context
In 2017, the famous convergence suddenly collapsed in the face of solidarity ambitions. Some may argue that this story should be kept in the political attic, in the bad memories section.
But the 2022 election is changing the outlook.
In the first choice, QS and PQ cannot blame each other for their results. Historically, QS made progress when PQ fell. This campaign doesn’t even need to have crossed their buses. The excuse no longer applies.
QS had everything to thrive: a talented leader, a political vacuum in front of him, a government that campaigned poorly and labeled him their opponent.
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, co-speaker of Québec solidaire
And yet stagnation: 15% of the vote, 11 deputies. Patatras, back to the 2018 box. Nothing indicates that the big evening of solidarity will come in 2026 or 2030.
On the PQ side, it was a bittersweet choice. An unexpected recovery, guaranteed survival and at the same time a historically low score. The ceiling is low there too.
Thus, this situation changes the situation: the two parties would talk to each other on an equal footing, and not, as in 2017, a power party (PQ) wanting to devour a third party (QS).
pact
Both therefore need a new dynamic if they are ever to come to power.
We will often stop at the fact that PQ and QS have taken different paths on identity issues. It’s true.
We can believe that they are insurmountable. It’s justifiable. But the question should be more about their goals.
The PQ first: Does independence only come from the party itself, the third CAQ path or an election pact with QS?
So QS: Will he be more likely to accomplish his transformations alone or with the PQ?
And finally: Who is the alternative if the CAQ runs out of breath? You or the Liberals?
If they come to the conclusion that their ideals are more likely to arrive accompanied, there will always be ways. It just takes a little imagination and good will.
passage
A rapprochement would be a dangerous undertaking. But there are times in politics when you get nothing if you don’t risk anything.
Those who think that’s impossible should take inspiration from the CAQ, which has managed to unify the centre-right.
Ninety caquiste MEPs, 90 reasons to believe that a coalition of people who don’t all think alike can be successful. The CAQ would rather win than always be consistent and right.
There is a will and a clear path here for a centre-left/sovereignty coalition to oppose the Legault government.
But sometimes in life, the best is the enemy of the good.
methodology
A web survey of 1,047 Quebecers aged 18 and older was conducted on October 28-30, 2022 using LEO’s online panel. It is not possible to calculate a margin of error for a sample drawn from a panel, but for comparison, the maximum margin of error for a sample of 1047 respondents is plus or minus 3%, 19 times out of 20.
►Leger Survey: Would you also like to take part in surveys? Sign up for the LEO, Leger panel: https://bit.ly/3raMw62
