The victory of the Parti Québécois (PQ) in Jean-Talon is “a signal” that the sovereignist party is making a comeback on the political scene, believes former Quebec Premier Pauline Marois.
“People are trusting the Parti Québécois again,” she says in an interview with Duty, three weeks after MP Pascal Paradis wrested the riding from the hands of the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ). “I dare to imagine that we will seek the support of a large number of Quebecers in the coming years. »
Pauline Marois will participate this weekend at the PQ National Council in Saint-Hyacinthe, a gathering whose main theme will be education. The former minister of the Lévesque, Parizeau, Bouchard and Landry governments — who spent nearly three years at the helm of Education — intends to address the three-tier system in schools, early childhood centers, four-year-old kindergarten…
But at the end of the line, it is the former PQ leader who speaks, invigorated: “The results of the last by-election are very encouraging,” she enthuses. We have a leader who is eloquent, who has a fairly clear vision of the future of Quebec, who is capable of debating it. We have a small team that works miracles in the National Assembly. »
From red to powder blue to blue
Pascal Paradis became at the beginning of the month the first PQ candidate to make a breakthrough in Jean-Talon since the birth of the constituency. When she was in government, Mme Marois was rather accustomed to seeing this seat occupied by a Liberal. “I was very proud of this victory. It’s a sign of hope,” she says.
At the end of a week which saw the PQ table its most recent budget for year one, the former prime minister salutes the work done by leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon to put forward the sovereignist project. The document tabled on Monday will be a “tool” to overcome “economic fear”, she points out.
“What year one’s budget does is illustrate that it is feasible, with benefits for Quebec,” says Ms.me Marois.
“We remember how there was fear,” she continues. The issue of pensions was used as a tool of fear. “You are going to lose your pensions, you are going to lose old age security, etc.” So there it is demonstrated that this is not the case. »
A referendum in a first term
Asked about his plans for independence on Monday, Paul St-Pierre Plamondon reiterated that he would launch a referendum campaign in his first term, regardless of the results of the polls. In 2014, Mme Marois had refused to promise it. “This is not the priority of Quebecers at the moment,” she said.
Is the new leader of the PQ doing the right thing by taking the referendum route? request The duty. “He, at this moment, his position is clear. This is where he wants to go, notes Mme Marois. I will continue to support it, but I do not want to get involved in the strategy. »
“Maybe I’ll do it a little later, but for now it’s okay,” she adds.
In its latest survey, the Léger firm placed the PQ in second place (22%), behind the CAQ (34%), in voting intentions. Mr. St-Pierre Plamondon ranked second among the best candidates for the post of Prime Minister.
Mme Marois encourages him not to change. “He holds the boat well,” she said.