Less than a day after the resignation of caquiste Joëlle Boutin as member for Jean-Talon, the Parti Québécois is already in offensive mode and wants to “get the CAQ” out of its riding in Quebec. A clever strategy, according to an expert in political communication.
• Read also: CAQ MP Joëlle Boutin resigns and returns to the private sector
• Read also: Resignation of Joëlle Boutin: doubts and a bit of cynicism
The PQ is already in by-election mode in the riding of Jean-Talon. Even if Prime Minister François Legault has six months ahead of him before triggering it, the PQ hope to take advantage of their momentum in the polls to conquer this territory for the first time in its history. Before the election of Joëlle Boutin in 2020, it was a liberal castle.
However, the Parti Québécois is in the lead in terms of voting intentions in the Quebec City region, according to the latest Léger-The newspaper.
Since Thursday morning, the sovereigntist formation has launched an advertising offensive on social networks. The slogan: “Beat the CAQ in Quebec”.
“A by-election will be held in the riding of Jean-Talon in Quebec. It’s time to mobilize, it’s time to win, ”wrote chef Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, still on parental leave. In this same tweet, PSPP calls for donations and asks people to become party members.
The formation adds that Joëlle Boutin “announced her resignation only 9 months after the last elections” and that it “is now time to send a clear message to the CAQ”, asking to leave the party of François Legault of Jean-Talon.
skillful
According to political communication expert Philippe Dubois, the PQ was very skilful in going on a rapid offensive. “For the PQ, it is strategically very interesting because there seems to be a momentum of the PQ in the Quebec region. They want to bet on this momentumthere as soon as possible to position itself as an alternative,” explained the professor of political science at Laval University. But can they beat the CAQ who won it with 3,000 votes on QS nine months ago? “That’s the big question with a big question mark. If the PQ comes second, they will be able to boast of a moral victory, ”believes the expert.
Remember that Jean-Talon has long been a liberal castle. However, the picture has since changed.
“For the Liberals, they couldn’t be in a worse position,” said Mr. Dubois. During the last election, the party struggled to find a candidate, before turning to a party employee; Julie White.
“Without a leader at their head, in a process of reflection, we don’t feel the spark to reconquer this county,” he said.
Duhaime in reflection
For his part, the leader of the Conservative Party is in reflection. He must meet with Jean-Talon activists next week to take stock, he told our Parliamentary Office.
On the airwaves of RadioX Thursday morning, he hoped that the CAQ would not present anyone against him. “Is Mr. Legault ready for the 530,000 Quebecers who voted for the Conservative Party of Quebec [aux dernières élections] can have one vote out of 125 in the National Assembly? Is Mr. Legault ready to announce today that there will be no candidacy from the CAQ if I submit my candidacy, ”he said.
However, the Conservative leader will not obtain this favor from the CAQ. The Prime Minister’s spokesman, Ewan Sauves, confirmed that the formation of François Legault will present “a candidate”.
In 2022, Olivier Bolduc of Quebec solidaire came second, 10% behind Joëlle Boutin. The formation confirms that there will be an investiture as usual. “It is the members who choose among the candidates,” said spokesperson Stéphanie Guévremont.
- Listen to Marie Montpetit’s interview with Joël Arseneau, PQ MP for the Îles-de-la-Madeleine via QUB-radio
Despite the increase
On Wednesday, Joëlle Boutin announced that she was leaving her post for family and professional reasons. She accepted an offer she could not refuse within the important firm Levio linked to digital transformation in Quebec.
Photo Stevens LeBlanc
Joëlle Boutin thus leaves on the table an annual salary as an MP of approximately $160,000, following the salary increase voted by the MPs at the end of the recent parliamentary session.
Mme Boutin was among the caucus members disappointed not to have been appointed to the Council of Ministers. A situation that “not at all” played a role in her decision to leave politics, she said. Despite this 30% increase, Mme Boutin decided to resign. She will become a partner at Levio next August.
During her resignation on Wednesday, she pointed out that “politics is an extraordinary opportunity which also requires sacrifices at the professional level” and that “there are certain opportunities that cannot be refused”.
Before being elected, Ms.me Boutin was also chief of staff to the Minister Delegate for Digital Transformation. This is an area she knows well.
Levio conseil is one of the companies with numerous contracts with the government and with more than 300 companies in Quebec.
Remember that a by-election costs taxpayers an average of $585,000.