Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois’ call for pragmatism in no way constitutes a “refocusing”, assures the main person concerned. The values of Québec solidaire (QS), such as moving away from the capitalist model, will remain.
“It’s certain: capitalism is not a good system. We must transform it, we must ensure that the economy develops in the service of people, that the economy develops within the limits of ecosystems, of planetary limits,” argued the solidarity co-spokesperson. , a few days before a national council where he will submit to members his undertaking to modernize the program of left-wing political training.
“I am not proposing any renunciation,” he continued.
Adopted in 2006 and updated in 2019, the solidarity program calls in particular “ultimately, [à] to overcome capitalism. He also advocates the abandonment of “waste with a view to reducing consumption” and calls for “the partial nationalization of the banking system”.
However, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois wants to make the party’s ideas more “pragmatic”. A proposal will therefore be presented to activists this weekend so that the program becomes “much shorter, free from overly precise political commitments, instead presenting the vision of solidarity […] in the face of major societal challenges. The united leadership thus wishes to make QS a “government party”.
Almost two weeks ago, around forty activists, including former MP Catherine Dorion, called in a letter to move away from “GND”‘s advocacy for the modernization of the party. “Where will this fearful choice of remaining within the limits of “pragmatism” dictated by the media and economic elites lead us? Our ambition is much greater than that,” they wrote.
In another missive published Tuesday, notably in The duty, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois replies: “Everywhere across the world, the left is losing its battles. At home, it is time for her to start winning her elections. »
Questioned about his writings on Tuesday morning, the elected official from Gouin insisted that his approach did not rhyme with any refocusing of the party. “It’s not a word I use, refocusing. This is not how I define my approach, because I am well aware that this word is often perceived as synonymous with betrayal or renunciation,” he said.
“There is no question of refocusing at Québec solidaire. That’s not the conversation we’re having at the moment,” added interim spokesperson Christine Labrie, present at his side on Tuesday.
Three days before the start of the national council, Mr. Nadeau-Dubois invites QS activists to “choose [leurs] fighting.” In a context where his leadership is shaken by the departure of his former co-spokesperson Émilise Lessard-Therrien, he does not “give himself a figure” to achieve to measure the success of his proposal. No vote of confidence is planned, he said on Tuesday.