As part of my duties as president of the CSQ, I met Jean Charest on several occasions, when he was premier of Quebec.
I quickly understood that he wanted above all to be the leader of a country. He liked the world of international relations.
I even dared to suggest that he transform Quebec into a country to materialize his dream. His line was always the same: “Don’t get me in there.”
We understand the rage he felt when he had the rug pulled out from under him in the race that Erin O’Toole had won. The skeletons from the closet had prevented him from showing up.
The disappointment was to be even greater, last Saturday night, with the thaw he took against Pierre Poilievre.
The result is unambiguous, he is politically dead!
The shameless
With such a disappointment, the ex-prime minister didn’t have many options except to go back to work and pretend he would be a CCP activist.
On the side of the Conservative deputation, rallying to Mr. Poilievre was rather quick, although nine out of ten MPs voted for Mr. Charest.
Careerism and opportunism have taken over from convictions. Supporters of progressive conservatism before the vote, the deputies from Quebec opposed Mr. Poilievre identified with the ultra-right, but they say they are reassured by the facade speech made after the confirmation of his victory.
The score of Mr. Poilievre in Quebec must also have influenced their sudden conversion in order to save their skin.
A slap for Quebec
Going back to the Harper era is certainly not the gift Quebecers want.
Western neoconservatism is contaminating all of Canada and driving us away from social justice.
Although I am very far from the conservative ideology, we can estimate that the defeat of Jean Charest is also that of Quebec!