Regardless of the political option, it is refreshing after each election to welcome new figures among the elected people. The 2021 municipal election left this impression: more women were elected, more young people as well. Also, five of the ten largest cities in Quebec elected a woman to the position of mayor, which made it possible to aspire to more authentic parity.
The resignation of the mayor of Gatineau, France Bélisle, must therefore be welcomed as another signal to make us more responsible, as individuals and as a society, in order to strengthen the democratic character of our institutions. One of the vectors of democracy is the possibility of expressing an opinion or intervening without this causing us personal harm.
France Bélisle discusses the reasons that push elected officials to resign: disillusionment, intimidation, insufficient resources, intense pressure, tensions between elected officials, the complexity of issues and media treatment. Since the 2021 municipal election, nearly 800 of the 8,000 people elected have already left their positions, an unprecedented situation. The municipal level, recognized for its proximity policy, is an easy target for criticism and insults during municipal councils, but also on social networks or simply during chance encounters.
The violence emerges from the observation that changes are struggling to be implemented. Citizens feel involved in this process, but attempts at change often do not have as much visibility as failures and projects lacking transparency. Additionally, there is a tendency to generalize the work done by the government in power as representative of the entire political system, which can lead to widespread disillusionment when expectations are not met or are partially met.
France Bélisle’s cry from the heart calls for broader reflection. The psychological health of elected officials is a mirror reflecting the vitality of our democracy. Polarization, hatred and intimidation certainly reflect collective fatigue, deep dissatisfaction, but also a misunderstanding of political work. We have a duty to examine the roots of this cynicism which pushes certain citizens, and even elected colleagues, to react with violence.
It is also time to recognize that partisanship and a lack of solidarity take up too much space, that politicians struggle to debate with confidence, preferring attacks to constructive exchanges. This trend only accentuates the impression that our political representatives are helpless, that they struggle to find meaning in daily work, that they lack perspective and vision to resolve problems and face challenges. which necessarily require collective and concerted actions.
We must, as people and as a society, take greater responsibility. We must promote collaboration rather than confrontation in order to restore trust in our democratic institutions. More than ever, we need passionate, persevering and unifying politicians. More than ever, we must show kindness. Is this an idealistic proposition? Certainly, but we assume it: idealists are people who have ideas and ideals.