Conservative faction holds the authority to dismiss Pierre Poilievre at their discretion.
Caucus Gives itself the Power to Recall Leader Pierre Poilievre
The Conservative Party just gave themselves the green light to kick out their leader, Pierre Poilievre, anytime during his term. This move has been compared to a "nuclear option" that ensures specific changes will be made.
Political science professor Frédéric Boily at the Campus Saint-Jean of the University of Alberta explains, "I don't see Pierre Poilievre on probation. But his caucus wants to make sure he will make changes or, at least, propose changes."
Following a second-place finish in the April 28 vote, Poilievre presented himself to his fellow elected members on Tuesday for a significant meeting. Despite the setback, he asserted before journalists that he had "many things to celebrate" as the party made significant progress.
During this day of meetings, described by Le Devoir as "cordial," a majority of caucus members decided to give themselves the power of life and death over Poilievre's leadership during the new Liberal minority mandate. Three Conservative sources confirmed that the caucus has decided to invoke provisions from the 2014 Act establishing reforms, paving the way for a potential ousting.
Thanks to this mechanism, the caucus easily managed to oust the former leader, Erin O'Toole, following his defeat in the 2021 general elections and amidst the Freedom Convoy protests in Ottawa. This move paved the way for Poilievre's clear victory as Conservative leader.
Also to Read
- Poilievre's Quest for the Missing Million Voters
- The "Longest Ballot Committee" Targets Poilievre's By-election
- Mark Carney's Washington Visit with Provincial Premiers
Not in Danger
Despite the recall mechanism, Conservative movement expert Frédéric Boily believes Poilievre is in a better position than his predecessor after the election. "I don't think we're in the same situation," he concludes.
Conservative MPs reiterated their support for Poilievre during the Tuesday morning meeting. None of the eleven Quebec MPs questioned his leadership, marking a record in recent years. "We certainly can't reproach [that] to Pierre Poilievre," analyzes Mr. Boily.
Dissatisfied Conservatives feel that their leader had difficulty adapting his message during the election campaign, which was dominated by the theme of American tariff threats. Often alone at the microphone, Poilievre tried, more or less, to amalgamate the new Liberal leader, Mark Carney, with the unpopular record of his predecessor, Justin Trudeau. This failed to convince enough voters to win the election.
By asserting control over the leader's future, the Conservative caucus has essentially equipped itself with a "lever to influence the leader," concludes the political scientist. "It gives them power back." Since Poilievre's ascension as leader in 2022, his leadership has been characterized by a firm grip over the party.
Immediately after his electoral defeat on Monday, Poilievre promised to stay in his post to win the next elections. He then declared that his electoral proposals were "generally the right message," and his work would consist of "finding ways to get our message to a larger audience."
All Conservative sources reached by our site agreed that Poilievre has nothing to fear from being shown the door by his MPs. In the current state of mind of the troops, he is safe until he obtains a seat in an Alberta by-election. Andrew Scheer, the former Conservative leader and Poilievre's close collaborator, will lead the party in the House until then.
- The Conservative Party's decision to give itself the power to recall leader Pierre Poilievre indicates a necessity for policy-and-legislation changes, as political science professor Frédéric Boily suggests.
- Despite the recall mechanism, former leader Erin O'Toole's dismissal in 2021 and Poilievre's subsequent victory demonstrate that the caucus' power over the leader can facilitate significant changes within the party.
- The caucus' decision to maintain control over Poilievre's leadership can be interpreted as an analyzation of his abilities and, potentially, a means to ensure policy proposals that align with the general-news and the needs of the party.
- According to Frédéric Boily, the Conservative caucus' move to equip itself with a lever to influence the leader extends Poilievre's political position, as it ensures a balance of power between him and his fellow elected members.
