Independence | Quebecers must regain their self-esteem, believes St-Pierre Plamondon

(Victoriaville) Quebecers must trust themselves and regain “self-esteem” to achieve sovereignty, believes Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, who admits that there is no “magic formula” to increase support for independence, at 37% according to the latest Léger poll.

“I don’t blame Quebecers, it’s a bit miraculous as a people to have survived a colonial regime that speaks another language, and [d’avoir] found a way to exist in the same way, but in the end, it surely has an impact on our ability to perceive ourselves as a normal people, capable of autonomy,” explained the leader of the Parti Québécois (PQ) during a citizens’ assembly in Victoriaville on Saturday.

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon affirmed that “as a people, we will be in front of the mirror very soon” while he promises to hold a referendum in a first mandate of a PQ government. “You will see that we will come back [à la question fondamentale] […] : are we ready to trust each other or if we accept our decline? », added the PQ leader in front of a packed room of some 250 supporters.

The event, which was held on the sidelines of the National Council of the Parti Québécois this Sunday, was open to the entire population. The chief answered questions from the public for almost two hours.

Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon was also responding to an activist who asked him for his “game plan” to increase support for sovereignty. Even if the Parti Québécois is at the top of the polls, only 37% of Quebecers would vote Yes in a referendum, according to the Léger poll published Wednesday in the Quebecor media. Another red light: a quarter of PQ voters are against the independence project.

“When I see the voting intentions at this time, it pleases me, but when I see in the same statistics the weakness of support for independence, it worries me,” said René Joyal, from Victoriaville. .

He admitted that supporters, who say they see him as the future premier of Quebec, sometimes ask him to “let the referendum happen.” “I tell them the following: […] If you find that we are intelligent and relevant on all subjects, think about the fact that perhaps we are relevant and intelligent on the essentials,” he said.

In the press scrum, he summarized his thoughts by recalling that a “historic moment” awaited Quebec.

“It’s really about saying: do we trust ourselves or do we continue in the absence of self-esteem? […] There are fundamental questions between lies and the truth, between self-confidence and lack of self-esteem, which will resurface, which are not political, which touch on much deeper things,” he said. he explained.

Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon also predicted that the group that will most support independence will be 18-35 year olds. “When I go to universities, to CEGEPs, we see that the possibility of writing a new chapter in our history and building a real social project vibrates enormously,” he relates. He will have a lot to do: the latest Léger poll indicates that this age group would vote No at 58%.

Health

The National Council of the Parti Québécois is being held this Sunday under the theme of health. A panel of experts, which includes the former star candidate of Québec solidaire, the D^re Mélissa Généreux will notably address the importance of public health and prevention. In interview with The Press this week, the latter, who is no longer active in solidarity, said she was seduced by the ideas of Paul St-Pierre Plamondon.

The PQ chose to hold their national council in Victoriaville, in Arthabaska, because this CAQ stronghold flashes on the radar screen. The riding will be left vacant by former CAQ leader Eric Lefebvre, who will resign when the federal elections are called to be a candidate in Pierre Poilievre’s team.

On Saturday, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon said he wants to win the seat of Arthabaska. Some have already raised their hands to be candidates, he said.