In its short form, the name CAQ is imprecise.
Posted at 6:00 am
It’s not just a coalition. It is a vast assembly of individuals with successive and differing allegiances. The party is best understood by reading its full official title: “Coalition avenir Québec – L’Équipe François Legault”.
Former journalist Martine Biron adds her name to the impressive list of new candidates. Above all, they have one thing in common: they want to be Prime Minister. And so in power.
In her last analysis, published in June, Ms Biron wrote that power is a “strong glue”. In fact, nothing else could bring such different people together in the same room. And if they remain there, it is thanks to the popularity and authority – one thing from another – of Mr. Legault.
In a text on the reform of Law 101, Ms. Biron divided the Caquistes into two camps: federalist and nationalist. Convinced nationalists like Simon Jolin-Barrette were surrounded by hard-line federalists like Eric Girard and Sonia LeBel. As a candidate, Ms. Biron refuses to identify with any current.
She claims they all share the same struggle, which is to defend Quebec. Maybe, but not everyone interprets it the same way.
Let’s not be stupid. It is normal for those who want change to join the party in power. Ms. Biron will be 60 years old next week. At this stage in her life, she longs for a new adventure, which is understandable.
In June, his final text for Radio-Canada awarded MPs from the Capitale-Nationale region such as Geneviève Guilbault, Éric Caire and Jonatan Julien the “Palme d’Or” for “arrogance”. She now joins them as a candidate at Chutes-de-la-Chaudière without disavowing her writings. Upon re-reading, we find no apparent bias. But she doesn’t deny that the speed of her transition from journalism to politics has made her uneasy.
His landing wasn’t too turbulent. Exactly where she wants to go remains to be seen.
To justify his leap, his choice of words is revealing. After commenting on the policy, she wants to “take action”. To do what?
It combines three focal points with the CAQ: business, education and identity. Specifically, she wants to “fight inflation,” take “the turn of knowledge,” and reconcile the economy and the environment.
These are folders, not values. Challenges, not suggestions. Of course, now was not the time to make any concrete suggestions, and the CAQ voting platform has not yet been unveiled. But if the campaign takes place at this level of the general public, it will put the population to sleep. Which would not displease Mr. Legault at the top of the polls.
The CAQ is not the first party in power. The Quebec Liberal Party was one too. To join it, however, it was necessary to adhere to liberalism and federalism. The CAQ is more elusive. She claims to be neither left nor right. Neither federalist nor separatist. It can mean different things to different voters at the same time, and that’s the point…
It’s not a political party, it’s a Rorschach test.
On Tuesday, the CAQ announced another prestigious nomination: Christine Fréchette, former director general of the East Montreal Chamber of Commerce and former deputy chief of staff to Jean-François Lisée. She resigned in 2014 because of the Quebec Values Charter.
PHOTO MARTIN TREMBLAY, THE PRESS
Christine Fréchette, during the announcement of her candidacy on Tuesday
Ironically, she joined the CAQ shortly after Bernard Drainville. The person in charge of the PQ bill which appalls him. She may counter that the CAQ’s law on secularism is more moderate than that of the PQ. Still, it has to defend itself against the ongoing attacks in court and in public squares.
The contrast was striking with another candidacy confirmed on Tuesday: that of PQ Pascal Bérubé. The honorary member of Matane-Matapédia has seen former colleagues take off for years. But regardless of the polls, he’s holding up. As did its leader, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, father of two young children, who left his job as a lawyer to lead a Parti Québécois in the elections. The strength of beliefs is measured by the price we pay to defend them. While their job pays well, they didn’t take it easy on themselves either.
Even if power irons out differences, Mr Legault would have a complicated start to his mandate if he were victorious. A multitude of ambitious elected officials would like to be ministers, and they would not be satisfied with being humble MPs at the service of their constituents and the CAQ cause, however they define it.
It would be a nice problem for him, but a problem nonetheless.