The Léger poll concerning the voting intentions of Quebecers published earlier this week was very interesting to analyze. Obviously, we draw conclusions about the judgment of voters on government action, especially after the tough parliamentary session of François Legault’s troops. It must be said, the population is much less severe towards the government than one might have thought or imagined. Even the salary increase for elected officials, a highly unpopular measure, had no impact on support for the government.
But there are also other data that can raise eyebrows, sometimes even smile. One in particular caught my attention: 19% of PQ voters are against sovereignty. Yes yes, you read that right. Nearly one out of five PQ voters is against the idea of making Quebec a country. This is huge when you consider that the only leitmotif of the PQ is to make Quebec a country and that the PSPP is committed to holding a third referendum upon its accession to power.
To see nationalist federalists supporting the Bloc Québécois at the federal level would have been less surprising, since one could imagine that they want to strengthen the presence of Quebec in the House of Commons to defend the interests of our nation, knowing full well that this party has no chance and no ambition to gain power. But on the provincial scene, it is frankly incomprehensible.
But there are other pearls in this poll that show how unique our political scene is: there are more sovereignist voters in the CAQ (39%), an anti-referendum party, than in Québec solidaire ( 35%), which defines itself as a sovereignist party. Also, 7% of the remaining Liberal voters are for sovereignty, whereas the only thing on which the Liberals currently agree on their identity is federalism.
Add to this fine list of inconsistencies the fact that 52% of voters in the greater Quebec City region are against the independence project, while the PQ is first in voting intentions in the same region, with 30% support. Traditionally more to the right, the people of Quebec, disappointed with the abandonment of the tunnel project, now support a left-wing party that has always been against the third link.
I don’t know what we should draw as conclusions from all this data, one thing is certain, I don’t have the impression that as a people, we know what we want.