[Opinion] Concerned young intellectuals

The results of the recent Quebec provincial elections will have allowed many to see that the current voting system weakens, rather than strengthens, confidence in Quebec’s democratic institutions and support for them. The portrait of these results was quite clear on October 3.

In fact, while the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ) obtained 40.98% of the vote, the party was granted a representation of 90 deputies out of a possible 125. The Liberal Party of Québec, Québec solidaire and the Parti Québécois, having obtained respectively 14.37%, 15.43% and 14.61% of the votes, make up the rest of the National Assembly with 35 deputies. This is nonsense since approximately 60% of voters voted for a political party other than the CAQ. Since the election results do not represent the will of the voters, we believe that a reform of the voting system is necessary.

What is more, for the 530,786 voters who gave their vote to the Conservative Party of Quebec (PCQ) — a party that is not granted a place in the National Assembly — such a reality must necessarily affect their already shaken confidence. to our political system.

Prime Minister François Legault must now be biting his fingers for having affirmed that the question of the reform of the voting system was only a concern shared by “a few intellectuals”. This assertion had also aroused the surprise of many at the time, given the fact, among other things, that the revision of the voting system was part of his party’s electoral promises during the 2018 elections and that his speech of the time was very different.

It is to be wondered whether, in Quebec, in 2022, the Prime Minister finds it acceptable that one in seven people who voted for a political party does not end up in the National Assembly. Does he consider it normal that a party having collected 40% of the votes should see itself obtaining 72% of the seats?

We live in a time of political realignment; we are no longer in a partisan system where bipartisanship reigns, but in a multiparty model. However, the rules governing the electoral process remain unchanged, which does not favor the adaptation to this new reality for both political parties and political actors.

It seems to us that it would be very relevant for a process of reflection to open up for this purpose, the balance of our society is at stake. This is a question of representativeness, but it is also a question of ensuring the political rights of all citizens by granting them a place in Parliament. It comes down to the bond of belonging to Quebec society, since this concerns social cohesion. It’s a matter of living together.

Are we promoting social cohesion in the territory within the government? Or are we instead facilitating pathways of engagement that alienate citizens from their political institutions?

The Prime Minister must be able to recognize the need for the structures necessary for this work to be put in place — by creating a space in which to hold these discussions — and to consider greater representation, which would encourage public participation and a healthy democracy.

Does François Legault realize that he has made the decision not to maintain the bond of trust between certain citizens and their political institutions by refusing the leader of the PCQ to hold press briefings inside the walls of the parliament?

Studies in psychology accumulate years and years of literature on the subject with regard to the effects on individual trajectories and the paths of commitment. The Research and Action on Social Polarizations project and the Canadian Practitioners’ Network for the Prevention of Radicalization and Violent Extremism are examining these questions, among others. On the communication side, researchers from the Laboratory on Influence and Communication, among others, are interested in communication practices that allow influence to be exerted in different contexts and then generate effects — and affects — which arouse the support, commitment or mobilization of citizens.

In the United States, we have witnessed, in recent years, the effects of the exclusion of a portion of the population. Works in sociology, communication and political science are not a rare commodity on the subject.

In short, although we can understand that the CAQ now has other priorities, the fact remains that the relevance of this exercise in our society is very real and that the need to rethink and update our ballot appears to us to be very clear and unequivocal.

Finally, some questions remain: 1. Who will take the initiative, take responsibility and have the courage to launch this work? 2. When can we expect to see the reform of the voting system arrive in our collective history with a capital H?

It is the responsibility of the Prime Minister and the government to ensure that political institutions represent — and rightly so — the will of the people. It is indeed about our democracy. A recent Leger pollThe Journal of Montreal shows that 53% of Quebec voters support the revision of the voting system, while 27% are against this idea and 20% are undecided. The question of the reform of the voting system therefore does not only concern “intellectuals”, but all citizens who see their political choices being under-represented in the National Assembly because of the distortion created by the current voting system. . Should we also remember that the New Democracy Movement has been working in this direction for more than 20 years now.

Hoping that the work of reforming the voting system will be set up quickly.

Albert Laurence, candidate for a master’s degree in political communication in the department of political science, Université Laval

Beatrice Sunderland, MA candidate in the Department of Communications and Media Studies, Concordia University.

Justine Vézina, professional master’s candidate in political science, Université Laval.

Simon Fitzbay, PhD student in Letters (social communication), University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières

Manuel Quintin, candidate for a master’s degree in political science in the department of political science, Université Laval

Isabella Vilaire, master’s candidate in the department of social and public communication, University of Quebec in Montreal

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