In the Chibougamau autumn breeze, François Legault wrote his campaign report. A good campaign, he says, “the best campaign to address Quebecers’ concerns.”
With 24 hours to vote, he should instead thank heaven for facing such a divided opposition. Those who only had to reap the fruits of their first term in office were more likely to sow doubts about the second.
François Legault was to inspire, he became the default choice.
Confront
Let’s go on. The slogan was well chosen. He relied on the confidence of the man who has already called himself the father of the nation of Quebec.
Always pragmatic, the CAQ was able to offer an all-purpose solution to the rising cost of living, an economic project to the climate crisis. Planted well in the middle, all was going well until the day the Nationalist sirens’ song trumped the game plan.
Specter of immigrant violence, nation’s suicide, he swung racism on Saturday!
“Analysts” would accuse him of racism. Implicitly, the elites condemn and despise him.
So far, the polarization of the identity debate has always served him well. This campaign will have shown the limits of their strategy.
His aggressive, divisive tone served as fuel for his opponents. Not enough to undo it. But certainly enough to solidify their weak end-of-summer support.
save furniture
François Legault often repeated: “Pride without wealth has no means. Prosperity without pride is meaningless.
But his gaffes on immigration have weakened the argument.
The pride that stigmatizes newcomers, the pride that feeds the worst prejudices, as Minister Jean Boulet did, the pride that compares Quebec to the suburbs of Paris, this pride has sowed uneasiness.
The opponents of the CAQ picked up on this discomfort.
It’s not for nothing that Dominique Anglade insists that François Legault’s nationalism has tarnished Quebec’s image. It no longer caters to the French speakers who have escaped it. It consolidates what remains of its Montreal base, which still believes in a strong and diversified Quebec nation.
As for the leader of the Parti Québécois, his affable and respectful tone and idealism reminded us that pride can be happy and positive.
The crossing of the desert of the old parties is far from over. But François Legault’s divisive campaign will have offered them a timely haven to hope to survive and rebuild.
Finally, the old fault lines in Quebec remain, making the task of the new parties more difficult.
Québec solidaire is becoming more professional, but doubts remain within the middle class. The Conservative Party has run out of steam.
The fruit of change does not seem ripe yet.
For François Legault’s CAQ, divide and conquer has never been so true.
