Jean Charest says he has been a “proud Conservative for 30 years” and “will remain so” as the whispers of a center-right coalition grow louder.
Updated yesterday at 3:14 p.m.
“I am in the leadership race to unite the Conservatives and to beat (Justin) Trudeau in the next election,” he continues in his message on Twitter, commenting on and relaying the article from The Canadian Press, which indicated earlier that Jean Charest’s team refused to clarify whether the former premier of Quebec will remain a member of the Conservative Party of Canada if he loses the leadership race.
“Mr. Charest has been a member of the Conservative Party for a long time. He is fully invested in the current leadership race which he intends to win on September 10,” his press secretary, Laurence Tôth, limited himself to answering on Wednesday, despite repeated requests from The Canadian Press to clarify his position. he will remain a conservative no matter what. Mr. Charest had also declined a request for an interview on the future of the Conservative movement.
In a book that has just been published, commentator Tasha Kheiriddin, who is co-president of Mr. Charest’s campaign, evokes the possibility of the creation of a “liberal-conservative” party if the plan to unite the political party fails. In a recent interview with Radio-Canada, however, she insisted on not promoting this idea.
Conservative strategists consulted by The Canadian Press believe that these messages sent by Camp Charest are confusing members.
Marc-André Leclerc, who was an adviser to former Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, believes that Mr.me Kheiriddin are “a bit odd” given that the vote has not yet taken place. “You are already talking about the formation of a new political party when that one (the race) is not over yet,” he said.
According to Conservative strategist Rodolphe Husny, a former adviser to Stephen Harper’s government, Mr.me Kheiriddin must clarify if this is her own reflection as an author or if she is also speaking as co-chair of Mr. Charest’s campaign.
According to Mr. Husny, the presence of two opposing narrative frameworks, either on the one hand “we think we have a chance of winning”, and on the other “there is perhaps a plan ‘B’ with a coalition”, creates confusion and raises doubts about the true chances of success.
However, he believes “quite normal” that Jean Charest and the other candidates affirm that victory is possible and that the most important moment is currently being played since they must motivate their troops to get the vote out, an operation that is taking place for more than a month.
Conservative members are to fill out a preferential ballot where they indicate their choices in order of preference. In addition to Jean Charest, the candidates are Pierre Poilievre, Leslyn Lewis, Scott Aitchison and Roman Baber.
The ballot must be returned by mail. The results are to be announced in Ottawa on September 10.