Hard, hard active politics. The premier of Quebec was re-elected in early October last year. The latest Leger poll this week confirms his party is firmly in power with 40% support.
Against all odds and despite harsh criticism from his opponents, the prime minister’s popularity remained solid. He is at the forefront of all politicians, with 60% of Quebecers polled having a positive opinion of him, which also makes him Canada’s most popular prime minister.
In other words, the popularity of François Legault does not prevent journalists from speculating about his eventual departure, attempting psychoanalytic explanations (long live Freud) for his nationalist impotence, his betrayal as a sovereignist and his new belonging to Justin Trudeau’s one-dimensional Federalism.
The prime minister is triumphant despite his government’s minority status, his striking personal backlash in the polls, and his general bewilderment with the chinoiseries being dripped by the English-language media.
PSPP
As for new media darling Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, he’s obviously a politician with class. His charm, his Anglo-Saxon and European culture, unknown to the mere mortal, is currently opening the doors to the political offices of respected European nationalists, ie Catalans and Scots. Even former French President François Hollande, a politician who handles both humor and politics and is sensitive to Quebec’s struggle over language and culture, welcomed him.
But the PSPP’s trip to Europe does not change France’s official relations with Quebec. In other words, the leader of the PQ is not the premier of Quebec. The only official spokesman for all Quebecers, including Quebecers who oppose sovereignty.
Come to think of it, François Legault embodies through his persona the heartache of Quebecers about their future. Disappointed sovereignists, psychologically battered by the two referendum defeats, withdrew personally from the debate. Their hope deserted them and they found other, less divisive causes.
risk
François Legault, whose naivety should not be underestimated, quality and lack of politics, took a risk by dreaming of a coalition. Did he really think his friends in the business world would cling to his sovereign past? From this perspective, his opponents are not all opposition MPs.
Did he have intimate knowledge of liberal politicians? By Justin Trudeau, who for years has transformed himself into a valiant knight of a more authoritarian, ideological Canada with its anti-Islamo obsession, more intolerant of Quebec, plagued in his eyes by “systemic racism”.
So are there only francophone voters who overwhelmingly support the person of François Legault? It is sad that the power the Prime Minister wields gives him so little comfort. That is the price any politician in Quebec must pay to wield power in these years of turmoil, war in Europe and questioning of the very nature of power in a democracy.
It is the failure of the two referendums that have finally left their mark on our history that make politicians, who despite all criticism have retained a nationalist zeal, the scapegoats for our failure and our future powerlessness.
