Narrative of an Anticipated Demise
In the political landscape of Quebec, two major parties - Quebec Solidaire (QS) and the Coalition Avenir Quebec (CAQ) - have experienced significant shifts in their popularity over the past year.
Accusations of prioritizing minority communities over national identity have been levelled against QS, with some suggesting that the party has devalued Quebec's national identity. This perception, however, is not an official stance of Le Devoir, as the Opinion section reflects the values and position of its individual authors.
The departure of Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois from QS in June 2021 was seen as a sign that the party was not interested in taking the government. His departure was a hard blow for the party, as acknowledged by the current female spokesperson, Ruba Ghazal.
The party's stance on various issues, including the development of a "three-speed" school system, the continuous privatization of healthcare, and the housing crisis, has raised concerns about the increasing inequality in Quebec society.
Meanwhile, the CAQ has also lost a third of its voting intentions in the same period. The mistakes of the Legault government, despite the favourable wind blowing from the right, have contributed to its decline.
The Legault government's offensive against bureaucratic red tape, overly meticulous environmental protection, union excesses, and immigration may provide QS with new ammunition to challenge the government's policies.
However, the party has not been immune to internal strife. In May and June 2024, accusations were exchanged between Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois and a group of about 40 opponents within QS. Nadeau-Dubois accused his opponents of defending the "system of oppression," while they, in turn, accused him of being the defender of the "system of domination."
The Maurice-Richard MNA, Haroun Bouazzi, also caused a stir when he made derogatory remarks about immigrants and minority communities in the National Assembly. While some QS colleagues disavowed these remarks, party members offered support, causing a depreciation of QS's advocacy for immigrants.
The spectacle of division and immaturity within QS has largely discredited the party, denouncing these excesses is not reprehensible, but it has left many questioning, "Who listens to QS anymore?" The party's problem could be similar to Legault's: maintaining relevance in a society that is becoming increasingly polarized.
A notable event outside of politics was the removal of Abbé Pierre from the National Order of Quebec, making Gérard Depardieu the only other person to experience a similar fate. This event, while not directly related to the political landscape, has added another layer of complexity to the political climate in Quebec.
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