We like to take inspiration from our “French cousins”, so this is an excellent time to follow their example.
After a pitiful 2023 on the political level, Prime Minister François Legault is expected to carry out a major ministerial reshuffle.
Getting off on the right foot
Like the government of Élisabeth Borne, in France, the Legault government managed to pass strong bills with, at the top of the list, the important reform of the health system. So much for the balance sheet.
Meanwhile, some of his ministers continued to exhaust their sympathy capital. We only have to think of Éric Caire or France-Élaine Duranceau. If you missed their best moments, you can probably rewatch the end-of-year humorous reviews, they harshly attacked the CAQ and its ministers.
Let’s leave Bernard Drainville aside for the moment. His ambitions as a potential successor to François Legault certainly do not make the Prime Minister want to take away the education file from him, which does not help him look good.
Even if it would be surprising if the Prime Minister moved his strong men who are Eric Girard and Pierre Fitzgibbon, the door remains open for several quality candidates, impatient to enter the Holy of Holies.
A window that closes quickly
If François Legault wants to make a major shake-up, he must act quickly.
There are exactly 1000 days until the next general election.
And there are 3 weeks left before the next parliamentary session. If François Legault does not reshuffle quickly, he will either have to defend the record of a worn-out government in the next elections, or defend that of a government which was unable to accomplish anything because it was appointed too late.
Now, it remains to be seen whether the Prime Minister will want to live with a caucus of dissatisfied people when he (invariably) chooses to move his pawns.
Eighty-nine deputies is good; 60 frustrated people are hard to manage! The bets are open!