Easy cuffs and hangovers

With the end of the split between federalists-sovereignists, a space has been created for new political parties on the Quebec scene. In particular parties that would be in the left-right axis.

The Conservative Party of Quebec is not new, but it has never taken off. Born shortly after the agony and then the death of the Action Démocratique du Québec, it peaked in the last election with nearly 60,000 votes and 1.46% of the vote.

The leader, the very cerebral but not very charismatic Adrien Pouliot, then resigns and it is the radio host Éric Duhaime who is elected leader with a Soviet score of 95.99% of the votes at a leadership convention, held in April. 2021.

Clearly, the Quebec Conservatives wanted to leave the sidelines of Quebec politics and wanted a leader who could get people talking about him and the party.

Because there is a market for a party that would woo more conservative voters who do not identify with the Coalition avenir Québec, which they see more as a populist party, which governs by polls and whose values ​​of right are rather soft.

But establishing that requires patient and consistent work promoting conservative values ​​and not falling into the easy race for headlines.

Unfortunately, Éric Duhaime has instead chosen to be talked about whatever the cost.

Thanks to the health crisis, Chef Duhaime was present on all the platforms to challenge almost all the health measures imposed by the government. Petitions against the vaccine passport or demanding the resignation of the Minister of Health, Christian Dubé, have been at the forefront of his action.

Even though he is doubly vaccinated himself, the conservative leader couldn’t resist being seen at the protests of the anti-vaccine movement. In fact, it is essentially in this context that the majority of Quebecers have heard of him in recent months.

The by-election in Marie-Victorin could have provided him with an opportunity to broaden his horizons and his discourse. He could have chosen a candidate with a more economical profile which would have allowed him to be interesting for a new clientele.

Instead, he chose a star, the actress Anne Casabonne, one of the muses of the anti-vaccine movement, even if she today refuses this title and says she is rather a supporter of free choice. Which unfortunately will not make us forget his videos “ antivax which she now calls satirical.

But what is clear with this candidacy is that Mr. Duhaime is not trying to build a solid political party on the right of the political spectrum, but that he has chosen the easier route of bringing together those dissatisfied with the measures health and, by extension, the Legault government.

It’s an easy way to get people talking, but it won’t bring him any lasting dividend for establishing a new political party.

It’s pure Eric Duhaime: the publicity stunt that gives a big high, an ephemeral intoxication, but which ensures a solid hangover the next morning.

Especially since we don’t know the date of Marie-Victorin’s by-election (the Prime Minister would have until mid-May for the announcement, even if he will no doubt do it much earlier than that) or what will be the health situation this spring… or this fall during the general elections on October 3rd.

Public opinion is changing fast and no one knows when the health fed up that is currently manifesting could dissipate. To try to build a political party on this basis alone is to build on sand.

However, there is an avenue opening up for a frankly conservative party in Quebec politics. To be convinced of this, one only has to look at the very real entrenchment of the federal Conservatives in Quebec.

And we can also see how much the breathlessness of the sovereignist-federalist debate is harming the two old parties that have kept it alive for so long. Polls show a desperately flat line around 20% for the Liberals. As for the PQ, it is going through a slow descent into hell that even places it under the Conservatives in some polls.

During this time, Québec solidaire is on a slow and undeniable rise, and has been able to take its place in the left-right axis, even in an environment where the CAQ dominates unchallenged.

Mr. Duhaime had the choice between patient work to give solid foundations to a party firmly housed on the right or easy headlines. Obviously, he seems to have chosen the second option.