After a long journey through the desert, the Quebec Liberal Party is in a hurry to be reborn in the political arena. Maybe in too much of a hurry. Gathered at a conference in Lévis, its activists and candidates for leadership jostled in front of the cameras to take a position on everything and nothing.
For or against a Quebec constitution. For or against the third link. “Scrap” or “soften” CAQ law 96 on the French language. Etc.
Even more surreal was the presence of its former leader and ex-prime minister Philippe Couillard. He also came to preach on the merits or otherwise of a constitution or the third link. Now, how to say?
When a leader delivered his party the worst defeat in its history, like Mr. Couillard in 2018, it would be better for the Liberals if he limited himself to salmon fishing.
If the PLQ wants to resurrect one day, a good first step would be to find a leader who is the polar opposite of Philippe Couillard.
Translation: no austerity. No debilitating health reforms. No primary anti-nationalism. Zero denial of the decline of French. An assumed federalism, but more demanding. Etc.
What’s more, the leadership race has not even officially started yet. We can understand the impatience of a party accustomed to power, but whose support among French speakers is languishing at 5%.
The danger is no less in deciding too early when the goal of a race is precisely to see the candidates present innovative ideas.
Quebec is doing badly enough for them to worry about it in a more concrete and more credible way.
Male skewer
Even if its lineup is exclusively male – an embarrassing anachronism in 2024 – the PLQ will not lack candidates.
In pole position, Justin Trudeau’s former Quebec lieutenant, Pablo Rodriguez, garners several supports, while the star of ex-mayor Denis Coderre visibly fades.
Marc Bélanger, Charles Milliard and Frédéric Beauchemin are of a more classic business type. Even if he chairs the Employers’ Council, Karl Blackburn could nevertheless surprise people.
If he ran for the leadership once his convalescence is over, his long roots in the PLQ and in the regions could also advantage him.
Sensitive hearts refrain
Don’t forget either that leadership races, all parties combined, are above all extreme sport. Between candidates, it is not uncommon to see very personal attacks erupt.
Hidden alliances and dirty tricks are hatched behind closed doors and end in betrayals that no one forgets.
If the object is to also find a leader capable of rebuilding a party, the fight is even fiercer. The PLQ will be no exception.
And what about the inevitable membership card sales competition? Far beyond the “ideas” presented, who sells the most says a lot only about the candidates’ organizational talents.
How many times had the PQ found itself with leaders unfit to lead it, capable only of “organizing” their own leadership victory?
In short, a modest piece of advice to liberals: leave the fathers-in-law at the chalet and your candidates free to amaze you. If they can, they will.
