End of year reviews are as classic as fitness resolutions starting in January.
Here is mine, conceived from a very precise perspective: behind the twists and turns of the political contest, totally unpredictable, fundamental truths emerge, practically immutable.
I stick to the Quebec scene.
1. “Never waste a good crisis.”
The phrase is attributed to Churchill. Fake. It is from Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama’s chief of staff.
Clearly, a disaster that falls on you can turn out to be a blessing if you know how to take advantage of it.
2023 was a catastrophic year for the CAQ.
In retrospect, we realize to what extent the COVID crisis, a public health catastrophe, was a political blessing for the Legault government.
During most of the first term, she masked her lack of a fundamental project, gave all the media space to the Prime Minister and prevented the opposition parties from opposing under pain of being seen as whiners.
Today the king is naked.
2. “Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it.”
This megacliché is of an obscure, largely forgotten philosopher named George Santayana.
Last year, we wondered if the PQ was in intensive care or palliative care.
A year later, he is leading in the polls. Nothing is decided, but it is a spectacular turnaround.
However, we no longer count the number of times the PQ and the independence project have been given for dead and buried.
One would have to have forgotten the past or be very ignorant not to see that the evolution of Canada would sooner or later bring to the forefront the question of the political status of Quebec: province or country?
3. “You can fool some people all the time, all people some of the time, but not all people all of the time.”
It’s from Abraham Lincoln.
What the hell was Finance Minister Eric Girard thinking with his ridiculous plan to subsidize NHL exhibition games after MPs voted for salary increases in the middle of the most difficult negotiations in decades? with public sector workers?
Unquestionably, THE blunder of the year.
4. “The more power we have, the less we should abuse it. »
In power for 15 years, the PLQ forgot this maxim of the philosopher Seneca.
It’s languishing in the poll cellar, and no one is interested in running it except a complete stranger.
He continues to pay the price for allowing the perception of a party with elastic ethics to take hold.
5. “Revolutions run on empty bellies,” said an anonymous author.
In 2023, QS continued to tread water, despite all its efforts to polish its image.
Its fundamental problem is that Quebecers live too comfortably to take the risk of trying a radical program.