For this series, The duty takes you behind the scenes of major reports by its journalists in 2022. Last summer, throughout the election campaign, Marco Bélair-Cirino, Alexandre Robillard, François Carabin, Isabelle Porter and Florence Morin-Martel followed at the traces the leaders of the five main political parties across Quebec.
A good red
Future Quebec Coalition
François Legault, who is often described as a champion of the exchange of banalities, saw his qualities as a politician-close-to-the-world being put to the test.
After tasting “sweet” and “good” radishes in Saint-Patrice-de-Sherrington, the caquist chef explored a vineyard in Coteau-du-Lac. A few dozen sympathizers were waiting for him.
He replied to a person calling for better protection of Mont Rigaud that “if the people agree, we agree”. He specified that it “never occurred to him” that “Vaudreuil-Dorion, Saint-Lazare and company” are part of Montérégie. He also told an illness-diminished man that a good friend of his died of the same illness at the age of 27. He also mentioned, for once again, that the local Caquist candidate has a disabled child.
The chef was surprised to see the production of white wine and red wine in Coteau-du-Lac. “Is it true that there is no good red in Quebec? Me, I like Bordeaux, ”said Mr. Legault, in a playful mood.
Marco Belair-Cirino
Horn
Quebec Liberal Party
The third day of campaigning is over. The tiles have continued to accumulate for Dominique Anglade. Emerging from its setting in the National Assembly, the liberal organization looks like an old tire worn by the rope.
It’s 9 p.m. on Tuesday. The agenda for the day is exhausted. U.S. too. But suddenly, the chef decides to improvise a walkabout in Old Quebec.
Our small group of ten, including two cameramen loaded with equipment, set off alongside him. small talk. No one in sight. Rue Saint-Jean is almost deserted. Images will suck. The boss realizes this. Slight discomfort. Little impatience quickly erased by a smile. We stop for a cone. I tell myself that it will cut short the torture. But no. Our tour continues to Saint-Louis. The trip ends. Barely ten handshakes. I sting home. And I consider myself lucky not to have done these two kilometers with a heavy camera on my shoulder.
Alexandre Robillard
Kingpin
Solidarity Quebec
The day begins under a blazing sun in Rimouski. In the Québec solidaire caravan, morale is high. Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois moves the crowds. The party program and its “orange taxes” have not yet been attacked.
Like every morning, GND reviews a few details before making an announcement. Except that that day, disaster. The aspiring prime minister takes a sideways step as he gets off the bus. A cry rang out. Twisted ankle.
After a short treatment break, the young politician somehow manages to give his press briefing. The mines of his team are low. After such a start to the campaign, the timing hurts, blows a supportive employee. Never mind, GND takes the road to the public market to shake hands, one arm firmly on the stroller of her baby, Hélène. “We will get there,” he says, a smirk on his lips. Despite the ankle injury, he has no choice: the campaign cannot take a break.
Francois Carabin
Cinderella
Parti Quebecois
At the PQ, the campaign began with the evocation of a fairy tale. “We will be the Cinderella team of the tournament,” said Paul St-Pierre Plamondon during a press conference in a public park in Montreal in the riding of Camille-Laurin. Under a crushing sun, the chief and his candidates had their backs to the river on a small belvedere. With the exception of the journalists, the audience could be counted on the fingers of two hands. Of the cyclists who stopped around, one said he preferred Bernard Drainville to PSPP; another, Amir Khadir.
The caravan did not drag on for nothing in the greater Montreal area at the start of the campaign. In addition to Camille-Laurin, the PQ hoped to retake several former PQ strongholds there, such as Verchères, Rosemont, Marie-Victorin, Taillon and Terrebonne. Everyone laughed when the author of these lines asked Mr. Plamondon who would be the “Prince Charming” of the Cinderella team. Good player, St-Pierre Plamondon responded with an enumeration. Prince Charming was “independence”, “French”, “the environment”, “the dignity of seniors”, “all the things that are important to us”. All that was missing was the electorate.
Isabelle Porter
The “barnacles”
Conservative Party of Quebec
The first week of the election campaign is over. The Conservative leader, Éric Duhaime, his team and certain candidates travel in the same caravan as the journalists. The latter must also knock on the door of Mr. Duhaime’s private lounge to have access to the toilets at the back. Anne Casabonne, candidate in Iberville, is again on board the bus that day. Mia, the chef’s dog, walks the aisle in search of cuddles. Last stop: a militant rally in Victoriaville.
The resto-bar is crowded. Mme Casabonne opens the evening by launching a few jokes at the microphone. In wanting to present the local candidate, Tarek Henoud, the actress immediately admits that she does not have her “barnices”, provoking laughter in the audience. She continues: “Our host was born in Montreal. But wait a bit, I’ll get there. She resumes from the beginning, then stops. ” Lord. A man in the crowd shouts at him: “Take your time, don’t give up. Anne Casabonne explains that she was “garroched” on stage. The third time is the right one: it retraces with aplomb the course of Mr. Henoud who presents himself in Arthabaska.
Florence Morin Martel